Rivier's Luis Tejada (44) celebrates during his 5 for 5 day in Rivier's win over Albertus Magnus on Monday. (Photo courtesy of Rivier Athletics)

NASHUA – In its first game played at Harvey Woods Field since 2019, the Rivier baseball team used an offensive surge from senior Luis Tejada and a stellar outing from sophomore righthander Jake O’Connor to down Albertus Magnus by a final score of 12-2 in seven innings Monday in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play.

The Raiders, now on a three-game winning streak, improved to 9-14 (4-5 GNAC) with the victory. The visiting Falcons’ three-game streak came to a halt as they fell to 6-16 (1-9 GNAC).

After Albertus Magnus took a 1-0 lead during its first at bats, Rivier responded with a three-run bottom half as senior JD Normand knocked in a run with an RBI double before Tejada pushed in two runs with a double to left center.

In the bottom of the second, the Raiders added to their lead as Normand and Tejada again led off the frame knocking runners across the plate to make it 5-1. Junior Dylan Aliberti forced a walk with the bases loaded to make it a five-run game and later stole home on a walk drawn by classmate Owen Medlock to make it 7-1.

Junior Nathan Innerfield recorded an RBI single to left center in the third before Normand knocked him in on an RBI base knock of his own to make it 9-1 in favor of the hosts.

The Falcons added one run to their tally in the top of the seventh, scoring on an error with the bases loaded to cut the Rivier lead to seven.

The Raiders, needing three runs to earn a victory by way of the run-rule, relied on Innerfield’s two-RBI single and Tejada’s RBI walk-off single to seal the victory.

Tejada finished his outing going 5-for-5 with a pair of doubles, four runs batted in, and one run scored. Innerfield went 4-for-5 with three RBI and four runs to his credit. Both senior Kyle Hsu and sophomore Sebastien Reis went 3-for-4, with Hsu later scoring on four occasions. Normand finished his day 2-for-5 with three RBI and one run. The Raiders swiped six bases, with Hsu stealing twice.

O’Connor was solid on the bump, pitching 6.0 innings, allowing one run. The sophomore allowed six hits and one walk while striking out three Falcons on 88 pitches. First-year John Horgan came in to close out the game.

Rivier will return to Harvey Woods Field on Wednesday for a 3 p.m. showdown against GNAC foe Elms.

SOFTBALL

RIVIER SWEEPS MITCHELL

The Rivier softball team registered a pair of wins over Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opponent Mitchell on Monday night at Raider Diamond, walking off game one, 7-6, before taking game two by a final score of 14-7.

The Raiders improved to 10-12 (4-2 GNAC) while the Mariners dropped to 10-17-1 (5-9 GNAC).

Rivier presses pause on conference play and head to Carr Diamond in Boston, Mass. on Wednesday for a doubleheader against Wentworth. First pitch in game one is set for 4:00 p.m.

Rivier 7, Mitchell 6

Rivier got out to an early advantage, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Junior Olivia Couto doubled to left center, pushing two runs across, before classmate Avry Nelson recorded an RBI single to make it 3-0 after one inning.

In the third, Rivier added to its lead as graduate student Hannah Muchemore singled through the left side to drive in a run. She then stole second, allowing Couto, who had reached on an error, to score on the throw down.

Mitchell went on to score six straight runs over the fourth, fifth, and seventh innings to take a 6-5 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Nelson scored classmate Hayley Rapaglia on an RBI infield single before sophomore Sophia Quinlan walked it off with an RBI double two batters later.

Rapaglia went 2-for-4 at the dish with two runs scored. Couto and Nelson knocked in a pair each.

Senior Courtney Marioles pitched a complete game to earn the victory, allowing four earned runs, while recording two strikeouts.

Rivier 14, Mitchell 7

The Mariners jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the top of the first. Rivier responded with two runs of its own to cut the deficit to one run.

After a scoreless top of the second, the Raiders rallied for two runs to take their first lead of the game as juniors Hayley Rapaglia and Olivia Couto each recorded RBI base knocks.

Mitchell would go on to regain the lead, 6-5, with a two-run top of the third. In the bottom of the frame, junior Kylee Caetano singled up the middle to tie the game once again.

The Mariners would not go away offensively in the top of the fourth, scoring once to regain the edge, 7-6. Graduate student Hannah Muchemore launched a solo homer in the bottom half to tie things up at 7-all, sparking a Rivier rally.

Rivier went on to score seven runs in the fifth and sixth innings to convincingly earn the sweep, with Rapaglia, Muchemore, senior Courtney Marioles, and Quinlan all recording RBIs in that span.

Sophomore Hailey Berube earned the win, tossing a complete game. The righty gave up four earned runs, striking out two batters faced in her fifth victory of the campaign.