Hannah Muchemore helped lead the Rivier softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Saint Joe's (Conn.) on Saturday at Raider Diamond. (Photo courtesy of Rivier Athletics)

NASHUA – The Rivier softball team defeated Saint Joseph (Conn.) in both games of a non-divisional Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Raider Diamond. This marks the program’s first sweep over the Blue Jays since the 2012 campaign.

With the pair of victories, the Raiders improved to 14-12 (6-2 GNAC), while the Blue Jays fell to 17-12 (8-4 GNAC).

Rivier returns to the diamond on Tuesday for a make-up doubleheader versus Emmanuel (Mass.) at Roberto Clemente Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

Rivier 6, Saint Joseph (Conn.) 4

USJ opened the scoring with a couple of RBI singles coming with two outs to take an early 2-0. The Raiders quickly responded to take the lead in the bottom half of the first inning. Following back-to-back walks drawn by sophomore Hayleigh Silva and junior Kylee Caetano, a single to right center off the bat of graduate student Hannah Muchemore knocked in one run cut the Blue Jays’ lead to one. Junior Hayley Rapaglia brought home the tying run on a sacrifice fly ball in foul territory. Muchemore later crossing the plate on a wild pitch to give the Raiders their first lead of the contest, 3-2.

Junior Hayley Rapaglia pitched a 1-2-3 top of the second, which included her third strikeout of the contest.

Rivier got its bats going once again in the third, extending its lead to 5-2. A sacrifice fly from junior Olivia Couto allowed Caetano to cross the plate for the second time in the game and double the Raiders’ lead. Sophomore Sophia Quinlan reached on a fielder’s choice to bring home Muchemore and extended the advantage to 5-2.

A lead-off triple from the Blue Jays, followed by a walk, put runners on the corners with no outs in the top of the fifth. An RBI groundout to second base was the only scoring play of the inning, brining USJ back within two runs.

Rivier saw its final run of the contest cross the plate in the bottom of the sixth as a result of an RBI single up the middle from Caetano to regain a three-run advantage.

USJ had one final run score in the top of the seventh in a last-ditch effort at a comeback, but a strikeout from Rapaglia capped off the victory for Rivier.

In going the distance, Rapaglia allowed just three earned runs and punched out a career-high eight batters faced. Muchemore led the offensive efforts in game one, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and one RBI.

Rivier 2, Saint Joseph (Conn.) 1

Rivier struck first in game two, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a two-out RBI single from Hayley Rapaglia to take a 1-0 lead.

Senior Courtney Marioles was dominate in the circle, holding USJ to zero runs with no hits allowed through four innings in the circle.

Rapaglia recorded her second RBI base hit of the contest to extend Rivier’s lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning.

With the bases loaded and only one out in the bottom of the seven, the Raiders recorded a double play on a sacrifice fly to end the game with a one-run advantage.

Marioles both pitched a complete game and went 3-for-3 at the plate. Hannah Muchemore added another three hits, and two runs scored to the book to round a 6-for-7 day at the dish. Rapaglia rounded out the offensive performance with a team-high two RBI.

BASEBALL

JWU 12, RIVIER 2

The Rivier baseball team was downed by JWU (Providence) in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex.

The Raiders fell to 11-16 (6-7 GNAC) while the host Wildcats improved to 20-11 (11-2 GNAC).

Leading 4-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth, JWU put up seven runs in the frame to make it a 11-0 lead.

Rivier was able to put a pair on the board in the seventh with solo homers off the bats of senior JD Normand and sophomore Sebastien Reis. The Wildcats walked it off in the bottom half to secure the run rule victory.

Seven different Raiders recorded base hits in the defeat.

Rivier is back home on Wednesday for a non-conference game against Nichols with first pitch from Harvey Woods Field set for 3:00 p.m.

MEN’S LACROSSE

RIVIER 19, ANNA MARIA 1

The Rivier men’s lacrosse team used thirteen different goal scorers en route to a victory over Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opponent Anna Maria on Saturday afternoon at Joanne Merrill Field on Senior Day.

With the win, the Raiders extended their program-best winning streak to 10 games and pushed their all-time win streak against Anna Maria to 12 straight, dating back to the 2013 campaign. Rivier improved to 12-1 (8-0), while the AMCATS concluded their regular season at 2-14 (1-9 GNAC).

Graduate student Colby Mercier opened the scoring at the 12:50 mark as classmate Connor Eck followed suit to give the Raiders an early 2-0 lead. Senior Michael Zapatka and graduate student Michael Ference then added to the tally, combining for the next three goals to force an AMCATS timeout with Rivier leading 5-0. Mercier netted his second of the game before Zapatka added his third and fourth of the quarter, extending the Raiders’ lead to 8-0 with 2:35 remaining in the first. Junior Braydon Bourque registered his first collegiate goal, followed by junior Joseph O’Reilly, who scored his first goal of the season. First-year James DelPrete capped off the quarter with a goal to give Rivier an 11-0 advantage heading into the second.

The Raiders added two more goals off the sticks of senior Sawyer Hall and first-year Mason Schultz to take a 13-0 lead into the halftime break.

After the break, first-year Tyler Zehr scored his second goal of the season, marking the only goal of the third quarter and increasing the Rivier lead to 14-0. The Raiders kept rolling as first-year Ray Lynch added to the tally, and at the 5:24 mark, Austin Salvetti netted his first collegiate goal to push the lead to 16-0. DelPrete and O’Reilly followed with additional goals, and senior Jaiden Lee finished the scoring with his first collegiate goal, securing a comfortable 19-1 victory.

Zapatka led the Raiders with six points and two ground balls, while Mercier followed with four points and a ground ball. O’Reilly and Ference each added three points, while DelPrete, Hall, and Zehr chipped in with two apiece.

Six Raiders combined for a team-high two caused turnovers. Junior Owen McDuffie was dominant at the faceoff X, winning 10-of-13 draws (76.9%) and collecting five ground balls. In net, senior Samuel Tibbets recorded a season-high seven saves.

Rivier outshot Anna Maria 57-20, held a 49-24 edge in ground balls, and won 17-of-24 faceoffs (70.8%). The Raiders also forced 32 turnovers while committing just 23.

The Raiders conclude the regular season with a road GNAC clash against Norwich on Wednesday, April 23. The opening faceoff from Sabine Field is set for 4:00 p.m.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

NORWICH 10, RIVIER 5

The Rivier women’s lacrosse team suffered a setback against Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opponent Norwich on Senior Day and Team Impact Day at Joanne Merrill Field.

With the loss, the Raiders dropped to 7-6 (6-4 GNAC), while the Cadets improved to 14-1 (10-0 GNAC).

Rivier opened the contest with a pair of free position goals from senior Sarah Lachance and sophomore Sofia Cebrero to take an early 2-0 lead. Norwich responded with the next three goals over a 16:01 span to grab their first lead of the game at 3-2. Cebrero halted the Cadet run with her second goal of the day, scoring on a man-up opportunity to tie the game at 3-3. Norwich closed the half strong with two goals in the final 3:32 to take a 5-3 lead into the halftime break.

Despite forcing five Cadet turnovers in the third frame, the Raiders were unable to find the back of the net, while Norwich capitalized with two goals in the quarter to extend their lead to 7-3 heading into the final quarter.

First-year Ashlynn Ledoux shortened the deficit with an early strike in the fourth before the Cadets reestablished their four-point cushion with a goal at the 10:10 mark to lead 8-4. Cebrero completed her hat trick with just over five minutes remaining, but the Raiders were unable to mount a comeback, ultimately falling 10-5.

Senior goaltender Rachel Hinkley recorded 12 saves in the contest.

The Raiders wrap up the regular season with a road GNAC matchup against Elms on Tuesday, April 22. The opening draw from Timothy J. Leary Field is set for 7 p.m.