Softball Puts Up Seven Runs in Extras to Split Day Three in Florida

MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Rivier softball team, in true Raider rally fashion, put up seven runs in the top of the eighth inning against Houghton to split day three at the Fast Pitch Stadium at Space Coast Complex. The Raiders fell earlier in the day to the Blue Streaks of John Carroll by a final score of 4-2.

With the split, the Rivier holds a 2-4 record, while the Blue Streaks improved to 4-0 and the Highlanders fell to 1-5.

The Raiders are back on Friday, March 7 for day four of the Space Coast Spring Games with games against Concordia Chicago at 2:30 p.m. at Blue Marucci Field and a rematch with Dubuque at 4:45 p.m. at White Easton Field.

John Carroll 6, Rivier 1

John Carroll capitalized early, scoring two runs in the first inning. Sophomore Hailey Berube entered the game in relief in the second and pitched two scoreless innings through the third to keep the score at 2-0.

The Blue Streaks regained momentum in the fourth, adding three more runs. Rivier responded in the bottom half of the inning when senior Sarah Frazier drew a walk, bringing home classmate Courtney Marioles for the Raiders' lone run of the frame.

John Carroll tacked on one more in the seventh with a double to deep left, securing a 6-1 final score.

Rivier showed patience at the plate, drawing six walks. In the circle, Berube pitched six innings, striking out four while allowing just two earned runs.

Rivier 11, Houghton 7 (8 innings)

Marioles got Rivier on the board early in the contest with a base knock up the middle to bring home junior Kylee Caetano in the first inning. Houghton responded in the bottom half of the inning, taking a 2-1 at the end of the first.

The Raiders knotted the game at 2-2 in the top of the third. Junior Olivia Couto reached on a fielder's choice that resulted in Caetano crossing the plate once again. Just as they did in the first inning, the Highlanders retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning, this time on a fielder's choice of their own and a single to right field.

With their backs against the wall and two outs remaining, Caetano brought in Frazier on an RBI groundout to cut the lead to one. A single by graduate Hannah Muchemore to right field brought sophomore Hayleigh Silva across the plate to tie the game up, 4-4, extending the contest.

Berube entered the game in relief in the bottom of the seventh, striking out the first batter she faced and ended the inning on a pop up to send the game to extra innings.

Rivier kept its offensive prowess going in the top of the eighth, scoring seven runs. The rally began with junior Avry Nelson reaching on an error that brought home Couto. Silva then reached on a fielder's choice that resulted in Silva crossing the plate for the second time in the contest. Caetano launched a triple into deep left field, bringing Silva and Frazier to the dish, extending the Raiders' lead to 8-4. Marioles and Nelson contributed to the scoring efforts once again, with base knocks driving home another three runs to extend their lead to 11-4.

In the bottom half of the inning, Houghton had its back to the wall. The Highlanders put together three runs in their comeback attempt, but Berube recorded a strikeout against the final batter that sealed the 11-7 victory for the Raiders.

Silva got the nod in the circle and went on to throw in six innings, striking out four batters and only allowing two earned runs. Caetano was the clubhouse leader, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs. Marioles was close behind, going 3-for-5 at the plate with two RBI. Frazier and Muchemore added a 2-for-4 day at plate to the box score.