NASHUA, N.H. – Saint Joseph's College (12-14, 8-6 GNAC) split a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) softball doubleheader with Rivier University (10-22, 5-13 GNAC) on Saturday afternoon. The Monks pummeled the Raiders in the opener, 16-0, but suffered a 9-3 setback in the nightcap. 

The game-two setback snaps a seven-game winning streak for the Monks. 

GAME ONE – Saint Joseph's 16, Rivier 0:

Saint Joseph's opened the game scoring with four runs off four hits and a pair of Rivier errors in the top of the second, when sophomore second baseman Libby Pomerleau (Saco, Maine) launched a two-run homer – her first career jack, sophomore Maizie Lee (Saco, Maine) singled and scored on a groundout, and junior Kristal Smith (Pittston, Maine) doubled and sprinted home on an infield miscue.

The Monks nearly batted around twice when they put up 11 runs off eight hits and left the bases loaded in the top of the fifth. Eight different players registered at least one RBI during the inning with junior shortstop Meghan Elliott (Mendon, Mass.), freshman Grace Chadbourne (Jaffrey, N.H.), and Caitlyn King (Old Town, Maine) driving in a pair apiece to help the visitors secure a daunting 16-0 lead.

IN THE CIRCLE:

·     Smith, the Monks' starter, allowed just one hit – a single with one out in the bottom of the first – and struck out seven batters over five frames to improve to 6-6 on the season

·     Rivier freshman starter Kellie Kennedy (Hudson, N.H.) took the loss after giving up five runs (three earned) off eight hits with three K's in 4.1 innings

·     Sophomore Courtney Trahan (Brooklyn, Conn.) allowed 11 runs off seven hits and four walks with a pair of punch-outs in 2/3 of an inning

OFF THE BAT:

·     Pomerleau was 2-3 with two runs, a home run, a stolen base, and three RBI

·     Lee went 3-3 with three runs scored

·     Elliott doubled and was 3-5 with a run and three RBI

·     Rivier sophomore third baseman Tayla LeGrand (Tewksbury, Mass.) posted the Raiders' lone hit

GAME TWO – Rivier 9, Saint Joseph's 3:

The Monks built a 3-0 lead off a hit, two walks, and a Rivier error in the top of the third. With one out, freshman catcher Makayla Cooper (Fryeburg, Maine) walked, junior right fielder Katie Chadbourne (Jaffrey, N.H.) reached on an error, and Pomerleau walked to load the bases for Elliott, who knocked in two of her teammates with a single to right-center. Pomerleau later scored during an infield rundown.

Rivier found the board for the first time in the conference doubleheader when junior Mikayla Ramsdell (Salem, N.H.) doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a Jess Silva (Tewksbury, Mass.) groundout.

The 3-1 lead held true until the wheels fell off in the sixth, when the Raiders scored eight times on six hits and an SJC miscue. Silva, Susko, Morgan Pratt (Pelham, N.H.), Julia Daley (Dracut, Mass.), Kasey Smith (Hopkinton, N.H.), LeGrand, and Taylor Rowsell (Chelmsford, Mass.) registered an RBI apiece in the eight-run sixth. 

IN THE CIRCLE:

·     Sophomore starter Kate Whitney (Jonesboro, Maine) allowed two runs off six hits and three walks with four K's over five innings

·     King took the loss after yielding seven runs (five earned) off five hits and two walks in one inning of work

·     Rowsell earned the win after giving up three runs (one earned) off two hits and four walks with four strikeouts in a complete-game effort

OFF THE BAT:

·     Elliott was 1-3 with a pair of RBI

·     For Rivier, Smith was 3-4 with a run and an RBI while Rowsell and Ramsdell posted two hits apiece

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:

With the split, Saint Joseph's is now 20-5 in the history of the series with Rivier University. Prior to the game-two setback, the Monks had won 10-consecutive games versus the Raiders.

NEXT!

Saint Joseph's will host Regis (Mass.) in a GNAC doubleheader on Sunday starting at 1:00 PM. 

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