Softball Splits Sunday Twin Bill with Simmons

BOSTON, Mass. – First-year right-hander Hailey Berube tossed her first collegiate complete-game shutout to salvage a split with the defending Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) champions, Simmons, for the Rivier softball team in a Sunday doubleheader at Daly Field.

After today's games, the Raiders sit at 12-14 (5-5 GNAC) while the Sharks shifted to 12-19 (8-4 GNAC).

Next up, Riv will head to Norwich on Wednesday, April 24 for a twin bill set to begin at 3:00 p.m.

Simmons 4, Rivier 2

After falling behind, 1-0, in the first inning, Rivier responded with a two-run top of the third with Avry Nelson and Amanda Atkinson each recording an RBI to go up 2-1.

Simmons would score one run in each of the next three innings to jump back in front for good.

Both Olivia Couto and Christina Panagiotopoulos went 2-for-3 at the plate in game one. Courtney Marioles was tabbed with the loss, allowing three earned runs over six innings.

Rivier 5, Simmons 0

After four scoreless innings, the Raiders finally broke the deadlock in the top of the fifth as Avry Nelson knocked in the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly. Two batters later, Amanda Atkinson tripled to right center, recording two RBI in the process. Atkinson would score from third soon thereafter on an error by the Sharks' shortstop. With two outs, Kyleigh Burtsell singled to center to push in the fifth run of the frame to make it 5-0 in favor of the guests.

Hailey Berube was able to shut down Simmons' offense down the stretch to earn her seventh win of the campaign and her first collegiate complete-game shutout, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out eight in the Raiders first win over Simmons since the 2017 campaign.