Catcher Dylan Aliberti had four hits in Rivier's 12-11 win over Suffolk in Boston on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Rivier Athletics)

BOSTON, Mass. – The Rivier baseball team defeated Suffolk, 12-11, on Tuesday afternoon at East Boston Memorial Park.

With the win, the Raiders improved to 3-6, while the Rams fell to 0-8.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After a scoreless first inning, Suffolk’s Ross Treubig homered to center field, taking a 1-0 lead.

Rivier responded in the top of the third inning, scoring five runs. First-year Austin Suchecki got things started, scoring on a wild pitch to tie the game. Senior Owen Medlock brought home first-year Ian McDonald with a triple to right-center field. With one out in the third, senior Dylan Aliberti recorded an RBI single to the third baseman, scoring classmate Nathan Innerfield. Sophomore Brady Balint singled down the left field line, giving the Raiders a 5-1 edge.

Medlock scored the lone run in the fourth inning on his own, leading off with a double to left field and scoring on a wild pitch to increase the Raiders’ lead to five.

Following sophomore John Horgan’s fourth scoreless inning, Suchecki and McDonald knocked in two more runs on a sacrifice fly and a sacrifice bunt, respectively.

In the bottom half of the fifth inning, the Rams erupted for three runs on four hits, cutting their deficit to four runs. Suffolk tacked on three more runs at the bottom of the seventh inning, cutting down Rivier’s lead to one.

The Raiders answered the Rams at the top of the eighth inning. Aliberti scored junior Sebastian Reis on a sacrifice bunt before Balint recorded a double to score Aliberti and sophomore David Miller to take a 12-7 lead.

The Rams responded with three runs of their own to cut the lead 12-10 going into the final inning.

Senior Ty Baker closed out the ninth, recording a strikeout and a putout at first. With two outs, the Rams pushed across a run on a fielder’s choice, before Medlock secured the 12-11 victory with a flyout in center field.

BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN

Aliberti went 4-for-5 at the plate with an RBI, two runs scored, and a walk…Medlock finished 3-for-5 with an RBI, a triple, a double, and a stolen base…Balint led the Raiders with three RBI, going 2-for-5 with two runs scored…First-year E.J. Baker earned the win, tossing 2.1 innings with three strikeouts…Ty Baker picked up the save, pitching one inning with one strikeout.

UP NEXT

The Raiders return to action Wednesday, Mar. 18, for a non-conference matchup with Anna Maria. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at the New England Baseball Complex

MEN’S LACROSSE

RIVIER 18, SALEM STATE 4

The Rivier men’s lacrosse dominated Salem State in a non-conference clash Tuesday night at Joanne Merrill Field. With the result, the Raiders improved to 5-0, while the Vikings dropped to 3-3.

First-year Andrew Nee opened the scoring at the 13:11 mark of the first, giving the Raiders a 1-0 lead. The Vikings answered five minutes later to even the score.

Rivier responded with a burst, back-to-back goals in five seconds. Nee buried his second from senior Sean Callinan, then senior Owen McDuffie won the faceoff and found first-year Mason Schultz to make it 3-1 heading into the first break.Nee struck again at 12:33 of the second, connecting with first-year Conor Walsh.

Nee followed with his fourth of the game to extend the lead to 5-1.

Schultz added another, finishing a feed from Walsh. Walsh then got one of his own at 6:48, and then sophomore Tyler Zehr capitalized on a broken play just 17 seconds later. Nee capped the Raiders’ dominant second period with a goal off a pass from first-year Colin Foley to make it 9-1.

Salem State scored late in the period, but Rivier carried a 9-2 lead into the break.

Sophomore Aiden Conley opened the second half scoring at 13:59, pushing the lead to 10-2. Sophomore James Delprete followed at 12:35 off a feed from Schultz. Schultz then scored back-to-back goals – Walsh assisting on the first – to stretch the lead to 13-2.

Conley added his second of the night with 2:59 remaining in the third.

Salem State found the net with 1:38 left, but Schultz answered just 20 seconds later.Walsh connected with first-year Henri Brochu on a man-up opportunity early in the fourth.

Nee added another at the 8:44 mark off Walsh’s assist to make it 17-3.

Callinan scored with 4:18 remaining. Salem State netted the final goal, as the Raiders cruised to an 18-4 victory.

Sophomore Jake Lydon turned aside seven shots before junior Lucas Fitts took over late, matching him with seven saves in the final 10 minutes.

The Raiders outshot the Vikings 46-31…Rivier won 18-of-25 faceoffs.

Nee (6g), Walsh (2g,4a), and Schultz (5g,1a) all led the Raiders with six-point outings.Senior Noah Zeman won 11 of 13 faceoffs taken.

The Raiders are back in action for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contest at Colby-Sawyer tonight with the opening face-off set for 7 p.m. at Sally Shaw Veitch Track and Field.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

RIVIER 3, NICHOLS 2

With the non-conference win at the Muldoon Center, the Raiders improved to 10-10, while the Bison fell to 12-10.

Rivier scored first on a Nichols service error before Connor Snow recorded the opening kill for Nichols. The Raiders answered with a kill from sophomore Cade Barron, and the teams traded points through several early ties. Junior Tyler Dickinson and first-year Kenji Clark produced kills to keep Rivier level through the midway point of the opening set. The set remained tight into the late stages, reaching 20-20 following an attack error by the Bison. Nichols then pulled ahead on a kill from Austin Gavin and a Bryce Bonville kill. After a Rivier timeout, the Bison closed the set on a Bonville kill to take the opener, 25-23.

Nichols opened the second set with consecutive points before the Raiders responded behind a kill from senior Matthew McCloskey and a Barron block. Rivier moved in front 5-3 on a Clark kill and extended the lead to 9-7 following a Dickinson block. The Raiders continued to apply pressure with kills from Barron and McCloskey to build a 14-9 advantage. Nichols cut into the margin with kills from Bonville and Pomainville, but Rivier maintained control down the stretch. Barron sealed the set with a kill from junior Joseph Cruz to give Rivier a 25-23 win.

The Raiders took early control in the third set, opening with a Barron kill and extending the lead to 7-3 following a 6-0 surge, sparked by a kill from first-year Everett Boyer. Boyer and Dickinson added kills as Rivier built a 16-10 advantage. Nichols attempted to rally, but the Raiders continued to side out efficiently. A McCloskey kill ended the set, 25-19, giving Rivier a 2-1 match lead.

The Raiders continued to find the floor to start the fourth set, using a kill from Boyer and back-to-back service aces to take a 5-2 lead. The teams traded points through the middle of the set before Nichols pulled ahead 20-18 on consecutive errors. Nichols closed the frame on a service error to win the set, 25-21 and forced a fifth set.

Rivier opened the deciding set with four straight points, including kills from Dickinson and Boyer. Nichols answered to trim the deficit, but Rivier maintained the advantage and led 8-4 at the side switch. Nichols continued to pressure behind Austin Gavin, cutting the lead to 14-11. Rivier closed the match on a Nichols service error, securing the fifth set 15-11 and the match victory.

Clark led the way with 14 kills, followed by Dickinson with 13, Boyer with 12, and McCloskey with 10.McCloskey added a team best .421 hitting percentage, with Boyer close behind hitting at a .367 clip.

Junior Justin Barish and Barron combined for 51 assists, with Barish registering 31 while Cruz posted a team-high 15 digs. As a team Rivier recorded 15 blocks.

The Raiders return to the court Thursday for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) matchup with Emerson. The opening serve is set for 7:00 p.m.