Colin Foley (0) and the Raiders won by double digits again on Wednesday at New England College. (Courtesy photo by Collin Traverse/Rivier Athletics)

HENNIKER – The Rivier men’s lacrosse team bested Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) and intrastate foe New England College, 15-1, Wednesday evening at Don Melander Field.

With the win, the Raiders improved to 12-0 (8-0 GNAC), while the Pilgrims improved/fell to 1-10 (1-7 GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Rivier controlled possession early, generating multiple shots but being held off the board through the opening minutes. The Raiders broke through at 5:35 as sophomore Mason Schultz scored off an assist from first-year Conor Walsh for the lone goal of the quarter.

Rivier took over in the second, scoring seven times in the quarter to break the game open. First-year Colin Foley started the run off with a helper from junior Cole Ronalter, followed by a goal from Schultz and an unassisted finish from first-year Andrew Nee. First-year Henri Brochu added back-to-back goals, while Walsh and sophomore James DelPrete each scored late in the frame as the Raiders built an 8-0 halftime lead.

The third quarter remained relatively quiet, with Rivier controlling play and limiting New England Col. opportunities. The Raiders added the only goal at 6:02 as DelPrete scored off a Brochu assist to extend the lead.

Rivier closed it out with six goals in the fourth. Sophomore Aiden Conley opened the scoring with a man-up goal and added another shortly after, while DelPrete completed his hat trick. Walsh followed with back-to-back goals during a late run. The Pilgrims scored their lone goal at 8:00, but Rivier answered with three more, including two from Walsh and a final goal from first-year Cooper Goodman to cap off the 15-1 win.

BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN

Walsh led the team with six points followed by Conley with four.

Foley registered a team-high eight ground balls in addition to his goal.

First-year Logan Layton and DelPrete each caused two turnovers.

Sophomore Jake Lydon made seven stops in the crease for the Raiders.

UP NEXT

The Raiders return to the field Saturday, April 11, for a Senior Day matchup with Saint Joseph (Conn.). The opening faceoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Joanne Merrill Field.

SOFTBALL

RAIDERS SPLIT WITH NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE

The Rivier softball team split a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader against New England College on Wednesday evening at Raider Diamond, dropping a 5-4 decision in the opener before bouncing back with a 7-1 victory in game two.

With the split, the Raiders fell to 8-12 (5-1 GNAC) on the season, while the Pilgrims shifted to 7-15 (4-6 GNAC).

New England Col. 5, Rivier 4

New England College plated three runs in the first inning to take an early lead. Rivier got on the board in the third as senior Olivia Couto delivered a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 3-1. The Pilgrims added two runs in the fifth to extend their lead to 5-1.

Couto sparked the offense in the sixth with a solo home run to center field.

The Raiders rallied in the seventh, highlighted by an RBI double from senior Hayley Rapaglia and an RBI single from senior Avry Nelson, but fell just short.

Couto led the offense with a home run and two RBI. Junior Hayleigh Silva and senior Kylee Caetano each recorded two hits…Nelson added two hits and an RBI in the effort…Junior Hailey Berube went the distance in the circle, striking out four.

Rivier 7, New England Col. 1

The Pilgrims struck first in the opening inning, but Rivier responded in the third with two runs to take the lead. The Raiders broke the game open in the sixth inning, erupting for five runs on six hits.

Caetano delivered an RBI double before Couto launched a two-run home run to extend the lead. Nelson and junior Liv Harnish added RBI hits to cap the big inning. Rivier’s pitching staff held the Pilgrims scoreless over the final six innings to secure the win.

The Raiders totaled 16 hits in the win, with six players recording multi-hit performances…Couto finished with a home run and three RBI.

Rapaglia earned the win in the circle, allowing just one run over five innings…Silva closed out the game, tossing two scoreless innings in relief.

The Raiders return to GNAC play Saturday as they head to Alumni Field to take on the Mariners of Mitchell College. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 12 p.m.

BASEBALL

NICHOLS 13, RIVIER 9

The Rivier baseball team fell to non-conference opponent Nichols at the Nichols Baseball Field in Dudley, Mass. With the loss, the Raiders dropped to 8-12, while the Bison improved to 13-9.

The Bison struck first, scoring twice in the second inning. Rivier junior Nathan Innerfield hit a solo home run in the third to cut into the deficit.

Nichols responded in the bottom of the third with a three-run homer to extend the lead to 5-1. In the fourth, junior Colton Colleran lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home senior Owen Medlock, making it 5-2.

The Bison added two more runs in the fifth to push the advantage to 7-2.

The Raiders exploded for a monster sixth inning. The rally started when Innerfield singled to center, bringing home Medlock. Junior Sebastian Reis followed with a single to left center, scoring sophomore Jayce Martinez. Senior Dylan Aliberti kept the momentum going with a single through the left side to plate Colleran.

Junior Liam Stott and sophomore David Miller each reached on fielding errors, allowing Innerfield and Reis to cross the plate. Junior Alex Gallicano capped the surge with an RBI single, driving in Aliberti to put an exclamation point on the inning, taking the lead for the first time, 9-7.

Nichols scored six unanswered runs in the last three innings to take the 13-9 victory.

Innerfield went 2-of-3 while drawing two walks, scoring twice with two RBI…

Colleran and Aliberti each had an RBI and a run scored…Gallicano went 3-of-5 with two RBI…Medlock went 2-of-3 with two runs scored.

The Raiders return to the diamond Saturday, April 11, for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) twin bill with New England Col. First pitch is scheduled for noon at Nashua’s Harvey Woods Field.