Raiders Take Two from Lady AMCATS in GNAC Action

Holden, Mass. – Rivier University banged out 22 hit and held Anna Maria to just three runs with a doubleheader sweep of the AMCATS in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) softball action on Sunday afternoon at Wachusett Regional High School.

River won the first game 9-1 and then took the nightcap 9-2 to improve to 13-13 overall and 9-7 in league play, while Anna Maria now sits at 2-24 and 1-14 in conference action.

Game One: Anna Maria 1, Rivier 9

Anna Maria opened the game scoring a run in the home-half of the first inning. Senior Tabitha Ruggeri (Sturbridge, Mass.) singled up the middle with one out and then stole second base. With two outs, freshman Lindsay Bond (Webster, Mass.) roped an RBI double to right center field to post an 1-0 lead for the AMCATS after one complete.

Rivier was paced by their leadoff hitter Nicole Peacock and second bat Marissa Mercier in game one. Peacock was 3-for-4 with a double and three-run homerun while Mercier belted a two-run home run in the victory.

The Raiders put up two runs in the top of the third inning on Mercier's belt over the left field fence to take a 2-1 advantage. After a scoreless fourth inning, River added four more runs in the top half of the fifth inning, including a two-run RBI double by Hillary Tarr. Peacock's four-bagger came in the top of the sixth inning platting three insurance runs for the Raiders.

Freshman Samantha Miller (Dudley, Mass.) collected two hits on the day for Anna Maria.

Tarr posted her seventh win of the season allowing just one run with five strikeouts. Nichole Lowe (Saugus, Mass.) took the setback for the AMCATS, the sophomore had one strikeout on the day.

Game Two: Anna Maria 2, Rivier 9

Rivier wasted little time in game two pushing across three unearned run for the early 3-0 lead. Anna Maria responded in the home-half of the inning. With one out, Tabby Ruggeri and Sam Miller had back-to-back singles. Lindsay Bond then reached on a fielders' choice which retired Miller at second base. With Cristina Turley (Waterford, Conn.) at-bat, Bond broke for second base, as the throw went down, Ruggeri scored to cut the lead to 3-1.

The Raiders would add single runs in the second and third and a pair of runs in the fourth inning to push the lead to 7-1.

Anna Maria would pick up another run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Ruggeri delivered an RBI single down the left field line to plate Justine Lalonde (Shirley, NY) who had singled to open the inning.

River would add two runs in the sixth for the 9-2 final.

Peacock paced the Raiders once again going a perfect 4-for-4 with 4 runs scored on the day while Tarr was a nifty 3-for-3.  Ruggeri was 2-for-3 for AMC, with an RBI and a run scored. Lalonde, Lowe and Miller had the other hits for Anna Maria.

Tayor Miller posted the win for River, her fourth of the season, while Lowe took the loss for the AMCATS going three inning and allowing five runs – only two of which were earned.

Anna Maria returns to action tomorrow when they travel to Johnson & Wales University for a 3:30pm GNAC doubleheader.