The Raiders celebrate a goal by Michael Ference duirng Wednesday's win over Saint Joe's (Me.) at Merrill Field. (Courtesy photo by Gabby Cabral/Rivier Athletics)

NASHUA – The Rivier men’s lacrosse team extended its program-best winning streak to seven games with a 14-6 victory over Saint Joseph’s (Me.) in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Wednesday evening at Joanne Merrill Field.

With the win, the Raiders improved to 9-1 overall and remained undefeated in conference play at 6-0 while the Monks fell to 3-8 (1-4 GNAC).

Graduate student Connor Eck netted two early goals in the opening 2:14 to give Rivier a quick 2-0 lead. Senior Sawyer Hall added to the tally with a finish off a feed from graduate student Coby Mercier. Moments later, first-year James DelPrete scored his fifth goal of the season, extending the Raiders’ lead to 4-0. Eck then completed his hat trick with an unassisted goal and Mercier added his second point of the night before the quarter closed to help the Raiders take a 6-1 lead after one.

Saint Joseph’s struck first in the second quarter, but Mercier answered back quickly to restore the six-goal gap at 8-2. The Monks responded with two goals in quick succession to cut the deficit to 8-4. Strong defense followed on both sides, with the Raiders breaking through once more before the half ended as graduate student Michael Ference scored to give Rivier a 9-4 lead at the break.

Mercier opened the third quarter with a goal to complete his hat trick, but the Monks answered just 38 seconds later. Hall then added his second of the game, and Mercier tallied his fourth to open the Raider lead to 12-6 heading into the fourth quarter.

Senior Michael Zapatka scored two late goals in the final frame to seal the 14-6 win for the Raiders.

Ference led the Raiders with six points on two goals and four assists. Mercier followed with four goals, one assist, and two ground balls. Eck added three goals and two ground balls, while Zapatka finished with two goals and four ground balls. Senior Chris Heitmiller and Hall each contributed two assists, and senior Parker Williams added his second assist of the season. Defensively, graduate student Adam Hailey recorded three caused turnovers and five ground balls.

In goal, graduate student Sawyer Gagnon recorded nine saves, surpassing the 100-save mark for the season.

The Raiders outshot the Monks 40-27 and forced 25 turnovers while committing just 18 of their own. Rivier also held a slight edge in ground balls, 33-32 and converted on 23-of-26 (88.5%) clear attempts while Saint Joseph’s finished 12-of-16 (75%).

The Raiders look to extend their winning streak as they take on the defending GNAC champions Saint Joseph (Conn.) on Saturday. Opening faceoff is set for 3 p.m. at the USJ Athletics Complex.

BASEBALL

FITCHBURG STATE 12, RIVIER 7

After tying the game in the top of the seventh, the Rivier baseball team allowed five unanswered runs to fall to Fitchburg St. in non-conference play on Wednesday afternoon at Riccards Field in Fitchburg, Mass.

The Raiders fell to 6-14 overall while the Falcons improved to 8-10.

Fitchburg St. took a 2-0 lead after the first inning, but Rivier would respond as sophomore Sebastian Reis scored senior Luis Tejada on a sacrifice fly to make it a one-score game. The Falcons scored twice on an RBI double down the line in left field to increase their lead to three runs in the bottom half of the frame.

Rivier scored three unanswered over the third and fourth to tie the game at 4-4 with senior JD Normand and Tejada each knocking in runs over that span. The Falcons yet again took the lead back in the bottom half to take back a two-run lead.

Junior Owen Medlock knocked in classmate Dylan Aliberti with an RBI single to center field to cut the deficit down to one in the fifth before FSU make it a two-run game yet again in the sixth.

Both Aliberti and Medlock produced RBI singles in the seventh to tie the game. Fitchburg St. responded with four runs in the seventh and one in the eight to take the game.

Medlock led the offense, going 4-for-5 from the plate with two runs batted in and one run scored.

The Raiders return to action on Friday for their home opener in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader against New England College beginning at 2 p.m. at Holman Stadium.

SOFTBALL

SIMMONS TAKES A PAIR

The Rivier softball team was swept by Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opponents Simmons 4-0 and 10-8 in the home opener on Wednesday at Raider Diamond.

With the losses, the Raiders fell to 8-12 (2-2 GNAC), while the Sharks improved to 12-17 (4-4 GNAC).

The Raiders return to the diamond on Sunday, April 13, for a non-divisional GNAC match up with Mitchell. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

Simmons 4, Rivier 0

Simmons began the contest with a bang as Raya Anderson sent a ball over the fence in center field to put the Sharks up 1-0 in the top of the first inning.

Following two scoreless innings from sophomore pitcher Hailey Berube, Simmons got the bats going again in the top of the fourth, bringing three runs across the plate and extending its lead to 4-0.

Rivier held the Sharks scoreless through the final three innings of play but were unable to spark a comeback and fell 4-0 after seven.

Junior Kylee Caetano recorded the lone hit for the Raiders, a double to center field in the bottom of the fourth inning. The hit marked the 100th of her career. In the circle, Berube struck out four Simmons batters in addition to her five scoreless innings.

Simmons 10, Rivier 8

Simmons jumped out to an early 1-0 lead at the top of the first and added three more runs at the top of the second to increase their advantage to 4-0.

Rivier responded in the bottom of the second inning, exploding for five runs. Senior Courtney Marioles kicked off the inning by launching a ball over the fence in left field. Juniors Olivia Couto and Avry Nelson both reached base on errors with Couto crossing the plate on a wild pitch to bring the Raiders within two. Nelson also scored on a wild pitch, cutting Simmons’ lead to 4-3. Rivier took their first lead of the day when Kylee Caetano delivered a two-RBI double to right center field to give the Raiders a 5-4 advantage.

The Sharks knotted up the contest at 5-5 on an RBI single to right-center field, then pulled out in front 6-5 on an error by the shortstop.

Rivier battled to regain the lead once again in the bottom half of the third inning. A sacrifice fly from graduate student Kayla Miles brought home the tying run. Caetano came through one again with a two-RBI single up the middle, putting the Raiders in front 8-6.

Both squads were held scoreless through the fourth inning, but Simmons regained the lead in the top half of the fifth inning on a three-run home run to left center field to take a 9-8 lead. The Sharks added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning to secure a 10-8 victory.

Three pitchers saw time for the Raiders in the contest. Marioles got the start and struck out two batters. Sophomore Hayleigh Silva entered the game in the top of the fourth inning and struck out four. Berube entered the game in the seventh inning and held the Simmons scoreless in an attempt at a comeback.

Caetano led the offense for Rivier, going 2-for-4 with four RBI. Graduate student Hannah Muchemore followed closely behind, recording a 2-for-3 day at the plate with a run scored and a walk.