Rivier Sweeps Pair Over Lasell in Softball Action

Newton, Mass. – The Raiders of Rivier College swept a pair of Great Northeast Athletic Conference games, defeating the host Lasers, 11-7 and 13-4. Rivier improved to 22-10 overall and 14-8 in conference play, while Lasell dropped to 10-26 and 9-13 in the league.

Game One: The Raiders jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning, using RBI doubles from Catherine Roy (Dracut, Mass.), Marissa Mercier (N. Smithfield, R.I.)and Kelsey Goodridge (Chelmsford, Mass.) followed by a two-run single by Hillary Tarr (North Easton, Mass.) to build their early edge. Rivier tacked on two more runs in the second and three in the fourth to take a 10-0 lead.

Lasell wouldn't go away, fighting back to pick up four runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning. The Lasers loaded the bases for freshman Denise Archetto (Cranston, R.I.), who dropped a two-run double into right field to get the hosts on the board. Candace Hankard (Wakefield, Mass.) followed with an RBI single, and a sacrifice fly by Brianna Gowans (Berlin, Vt.) knocked in the fourth run in the inning.

Rivier got a run in the top of the sixth when Roy scored on a wild pitch to push their lead back to 11-4. Lasell threatened in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases but they were unable to push any runs across.

The Lasers scored three more in the bottom of the seventh, but their rally fell short as the dropped an 11-7 game.

Alison Saluti (Braintree, Mass.) took the loss for Lasell, while Nadjeska Reynolds (Hamden, Conn.) earned the win for Rivier.

Game Two: Rivier took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, courtesy of a sacrifice fly by Goodridge. The Lasers answered in the bottom half of the inning, getting an RBI double from Jacqueline Saluti (Braintree, Mass.), followed by run scoring singles by Archetto and Rachelle Haas (Middleton, Mass.) to take a 3-1 lead.

Rivier narrowed the Lasell lead to 3-2 picking up a run on an RBI groundout by Kristie Clark (Brentwood, N.H.) in the top of the second. Neither team was able to generate much offense through the next couple of innings, until Rivier drew even in the top of the fifth thanks to an RBI double by Amanda Thornton (Hanover, Mass.).

Lasell edged back in front in the bottom of the fifth, using a lead-off single, and sacrifice and RBI groundout by Jacqui Saluti to reclaim a one run lead at 4-3. The Raiders used a two-out rally in the top of the sixth to pick up a run and tie the game at 4-4.

Rivier the exploded for nine runs on 10 hits in the top of the seventh to break open the otherwise tight affair and win their 22^nd game of the year. Cassie Wadden (Brookfield, Mass.) took the loss for Lasell, while Lauren Beatty (Sherman, Conn.) earned the win for Rivier.

Lasell will close the season with doubleheader matchups with Norwich on April 18^th and Emerson on April 21^st as they continue to push for a spot in the GNAC tournament. Rivier will close with a pair of games versus St. Joseph's (CT) and Simmons College also on the 18^th and 21^st respectively.