NASHUA, N.H. – Saint Joseph's College (6-8, 2-0 GNAC) swept a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) softball doubleheader with Rivier University on Saturday afternoon. The Monks opened with a 5-1 victory and completed the sweep with a 10-5 triumph.

GAME ONE:

The Monks scored three runs with two out in the top of the first when junior Olivia Howe (Arundel, Maine) delivered an RBI single and later scored, along with freshman Sylvia Foley (Scarborough, Maine), when sophomore Lydia Goodnough (Kennebunkport, Maine) belted a two-run triple.

Freshman shortstop Rebecca Fleming (Belmont, N.H.) made it a 4-0 game with an RBI double in the top of the fourth and Goodnough rapped a run-scoring single in the top of the seventh to account for the Monks' five runs.

IN THE CIRCLE:

• Junior starter Meredith Pence (Remington, Va.) earned the win after allowing a run on three hits and three walks with six strikeouts in five innings; junior reliever Emily Eagleston (Reading, Mass.) tossed two one-hit innings to pick up the save
• Rivier starter Nicole Verrette took the loss after yielding five runs on 10 hits and four walks with seven K's in a complete-game effort

OFF THE BAT:

• Senior left fielder Ashley Emery (Madison, Maine) was 2-for-4 with two runs, a double and a stolen base
• Goodnough went 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBI
• Fleming was 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base, and an RBI
• Howe went 2-for-2 with a run, a double, an RBI and two walks
• For Rivier, shortstop Sarah Frazier was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base

GAME TWO:

St. Joe's put up a crooked number in the first inning of the nightcap as well, as the visitors plated three runs on two hits to stake an early lead. Foley and Goodnough delivered run-scoring singles and Emery singled, stole second, and later crossed the plate on a Howe groundout.

The GNAC rivals swapped runs in the bottom of the first and top of the second and the Monks put the game out of reach with four runs on four hits in the top of the third. Foley tripled Howe home and scored on a Goodnough two-bagger and Emery drove in Paige Connery (Tyngsboro, Mass.) with a single to lift the Royal Blue to an 8-1 advantage.

Emery capped the SJC scoring ledger with a two-run double in the top of the fifth inning.

IN THE CIRCLE:

• SJC junior starter Sydney Hatch (Newburgh, Maine) picked up the win after allowing four runs on 11 hits with four punch-outs in six innings; freshman reliever Emma Hodgkins (Raymond, N.H.) gave up a run and two hits in an inning of work
• Rivier starter Sydney Green falls to 0-6 after giving up 10 runs on 10 hits and three walks in five innings; reliever Courtney Marioles tossed two shutout innings with a walk and a strikeout

OFF THE BAT:

• Emery went 4-for-4 with a run, a double, four RBI, and three stolen bases
• Foley was 2-for-4 with a run, a triple, and two RBI
• For Rivier, Julia Dailey and Josie Maggiore posted three hits apiece

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:

With the sweep, Saint Joseph's improves to 25-5 in the history of the series with Rivier University and has now defeated the Raiders in five-consecutive meetings.

NEXT!

Saint Joseph's returns to the diamond tomorrow for a home doubleheader with Regis College. First pitch is set for 12:00 PM.

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