The Rivier basebll team is set for its return today to the GNAC postseason with pod play in New Londond, Conn. (Photo courtesy of Rivier Athletics)

NASHUA – Riding a five-game conference winning streak the Rivier baseball team is headed back to the postseason for the second time in three years, earning the No. 6 seed in the 2025 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Baseball Tournament.

The Raiders will compete in Pod B, hosted by defending GNAC champion Mitchell College, from today through Sunday in New London, Conn. at Alumni Field. Today they will face No. 3 seed Lasell in the opening round. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

Rivier finished the regular season at 14-17 overall and 9-7 in GNAC play, marking the program’s best-ever conference record. The Raiders will open Pod B action with a matchup against No. 3 seed Lasell (23-13, 11-5 GNAC) on Friday. Also competing in the pod are host No. 2 Mitchell (22-16, 13-3 GNAC) and No. 7 seed Anna Maria (18-9, 7-8 GNAC). The double-elimination pod format will determine who advances to the 2025 GNAC Baseball Championship Series next weekend to face the winner of Pod A, hosted by top-seeded JWU (Providence).

Rivier opened the 2025 campaign at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C., where the Raiders began with a sweep of Lancaster Bible. After a setback against Elmira, they bounced back with a convincing 17-4 win over Valley Forge. The trip wrapped up with losses to Hilbert and Eastern before a split with Manhattanville, sending the Raiders back to New England with a 4-4 overall record.

Non-conference play continued with a road win over Wentworth in Boston, followed by a doubleheader loss to Mass. Maritime in Bourne, Mass. The Raiders then opened GNAC play with a tough loss to Saint Joseph (Conn.) before rebounding on the road with a win over Anna Maria.

From there, Rivier faced a challenging stretch that included non-conference losses to Emerson and Western New Eng., a GNAC doubleheader loss to Norwich, and setbacks to conference opponents Dean and Mitchell. The Raiders also dropped a midweek non-conference game to Fitchburg St.

Upon returning to Nashua for their first home games of the season, Rivier swept New England Col. in a two-game series before notching back-to-back wins over Albertus Magnus and Elms. The Raiders then hit the road again, traveling to Standish, where they split with Saint Joseph’s (Maine).

The road swing continued with a loss to top-seeded JWU (Providence) followed by a loss to Nichols to close out their non-conference slate. Rivier returned to Harvey Woods Field and delivered a strong finish, defeating Lasell during the team’s Mental Health Awareness Game and then sweeping Colby-Sawyer on Senior Day with back-to-back walk-off victories to lock in their postseason spot.

Junior Nathan Innerfield has led the charge offensively for the Raiders, batting .383 to rank sixth in the conference. A key offensive force, Innerfield has totaled 94 bases, 48 RBI, and 14 doubles, while adding 3 home runs and a .511 slugging percentage. Senior JD Normand has continued to impress in his second season with the Raiders, batting .317 with 33 hits, 54 total bases, and 25 RBI.

Junior Owen Medlock of Merrimack delivered a strong campaign, posting a .304 average with 24 hits and 10 RBI. Senior Luis Tejada has been another standout contributor, hitting .295 with 31 hits and 26 RBI. His .909 OPS and five home runs place him among the top 20 in the conference in both categories

After starting just 12 games last season, sophomore Sebastien Reis made a significant leap, starting all 25 games played this year while batting .259 with 22 hits and 14 RBI. Junior Dylan Aliberti has been a steady contact hitter, recording 24 hits and batting .245. Senior Jacob Boudreau added 23 hits to the stat sheet and demonstrated discipline at the plate with a team-high 19 walks. Fellow senior Kyle Hsu contributed a .282 average with 22 hits and 8 RBI, while leading the team with 12 stolen bases. Rounding out the offensive lineup are Jayce Martinez, Colton Colleran, Alex Gallicano, and Brady Balint, who have all provided depth throughout the season.

The Raiders’ pitching staff has emerged as one of the most effective units in the conference this season, ranking first in hits allowed, third in earned runs, and sixth overall in team ERA

Senior Nate Bonacorsi has been the ace of the rotation, posting a 3.23 ERA across eight starts. In 47.1 innings pitched, he’s has struck out 42 batters while allowing just 17 earned runs as opponents are only hitting .265 against him.

Junior Anthony Morro has taken the mound for nine starts, recording a 3-4 record with a 5.96 ERA. Morro has struck out 30 batters in 45.1 innings while holding opponents to a .271 batting average. Sophomore Jake O’Connor rounds out the starting trio with nine appearances and seven starts. He has logged 33.2 innings with 32 strikeouts and a 6.95 ERA.

In the bullpen, junior Ty Baker of Hudson has been nothing short of dominant. In 10 appearances, he boasts a 0.46 ERA and 0.66 WHIP, allowing just one earned run over 19.2 innings. Opposing hitters are batting .132 against him, and his seven saves lead the conference. Junior Brendan Ferris has been another key piece in relief, posting a 3-0 record over 13 outings. In 15 innings, he’s struck out 10 and allowed just eight earned runs, maintaining a 4.80 ERA.