STANDISH, Maine – #3N Rivier University (16-21) scored two runs in the first inning and never trailed en route to a 4-2 victory over #2N Saint Joseph's College (18-21) in a GNAC Softball Tournament first round contest at Bailey Field on Wednesday afternoon.
PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS:
With the loss, Saint Joseph's falls into the elimination bracket and will face #4S Lasell University in a win-or-go-home game at Albertus Magnus College on Saturday at 1:00 PM. Rivier will take on Albertus Magnus on Saturday at 10:00 PM.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Rivier grabbed control early with a two-out, two-run single by Hayley Rapaglia in the top of the first, but the Monks answered in the bottom half when senior Sadie Tirrell (Naples, Maine) scored on a Rivier error to make it 2-1. The Raiders pushed the lead back to two in the third as Emma Politz scored on Rapaglia's RBI single, and Saint Joseph's pulled back within a run in the fourth when sophomore Makayla Quintal (Gorham, Maine) doubled and later scored on a run-scoring double by sophomore Addison French (Rochester, N.H.).
Saint Joseph's had chances to draw even, but Rivier starter Hailey Berube worked out of trouble and the Raiders added an insurance run in the sixth when Olivia Couto doubled and scored on a Liv Harnish single. The Monks put the tying run aboard in the seventh, but Rivier recorded the final out to close out the postseason win.
IN THE CIRCLE:
Saint Joseph's:
- Senior Miranda Northrup (Whitefield, Maine) (L, 11-8) – 7.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Rivier:
- Hailey Berube (W, 11-13) – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB
IN THE BOX:
Saint Joseph's:
- Sadie Tirrell – 1-for-3, R, BB, 2B
- Makayla Quintal (So., Gorham, Maine) – 1-for-3, R, 2B
- Addison French (So., Rochester, N.H.) – 3-for-3, RBI, 2B
- Kiera Gabric (Fr., Hampden, Maine) – BB
- Kryslin Stearns (Jr., Concord, N.H.) – BB
Rivier:
- Avry Nelson – 2-for-4, R
- Emma Politz – 1-for-3, 2 R, BB
- Kylee Caetano – 1-for-4, 2B
- Olivia Couto – 1-for-3, R, BB, 2B
- Hayley Rapaglia – 2-for-3, 3 RBI
- Liv Harnish – 1-for-3, RBI
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
Saint Joseph's is now 31-10 in the history of the series with Rivier University.
