Rivier Walks Off With 11-10 Victory Over Baseball

The Rivier University Baseball team won a wild and crazy fog filled contest this evening at Pappas Field on the campus of Franklin Pierce University by an 11-10 final over Suffolk University. The Raiders were the home team and played at FPU due to Holman Stadium not being available.

After coughing up the three run lead in the top of the seventh as Suffolk scored four times to take the 10-9 lead, Rivier quickly rallied back to load the bases with no outs. Senior JJ Montello (Nashua, N.H.) hit a sharp single up the middle and classmate David Cusack (Newburyport, Mass.) laid down a sac bunt that was mishandled to give Rivier a pair of runners on. Junior Taylor Black (West Springfield, Mass.) grounded a ball towards the shortstop who tried to get the out at third but Montello was able to avoid the tag to load the bases. Senior Mike Scanlon (Plantsville, Conn.) hit a slow chopper to the left side that would allow Montello to score the tying run and when the ill-advised throw sailed wide of first base, Cusack crossed the plate to give Rivier the 11-10 walk off win.

This is the first time that Rivier has defeated Suffolk University since 2007.

Montello finished the game going 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Cusack went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and a RBI. Black, junior Jeremy Ball (Swanzey, N.H.) and David Feole (Scituate, R.I.) all collected a pair of hits for Rivier who totaled 12 hits in the ballgame.

Senior Alex Mears (Salem, N.H.) was credited with the win as he was able to retire the final two outs in the top half of the seventh inning. Junior Nick Pica (Hampstead, N.H.) was the starting pitcher and tossed five innings allowing six runs on nine hits with five strikeouts.

Suffolk was led by JC Collette who went 3-for-4 with three RBI and Sean Cameron who had the game tying hit in the seventh on his 2-for-3 night. Julien Plana and Brady Chant also had two hit games for the Rams. David Apostolides (0-1) suffered the loss on the mound.

Game Two of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Double-Header was postponed due to the heavy fog that rolled in at the end of game one. The make-up date has not been announced yet.

Rivier, now 7-13 overall and 3-4 in the GNAC, will host Albertus Magnus College tomorrow afternoon at Bishop Guertin High School. The GNAC twin bill will begin at 2pm.

(Story courtesy of Rivier University Sports Information)