Softball Drops Pair Of Non-Conference Games To Raiders

Solt registers season best eight strikeouts for Green and Gold

Fitchburg, MA. – The Fitchburg State University softball team was swept by the Raiders of Rivier University this afternoon in non-conference action from the Donna Lee Withington Field as the Falcons fell 21-6 in the opener before dropping an 11-6 decision in the nightcap.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 6, Rivier 21 (GM1)

Score: Fitchburg State 5, Rivier 11 (GM 2) (4inn)

Records: Fitchburg State (1-12, 0-0 MASCAC) I Rivier (5-7, 0-0 GNAC)

How It Happened

Game One

Rivier opened the scoring in the top of the first inning as graduate student Hannah Muchemore (Nashua, NH) collected an RBI groundout, scoring sophomore Hayleigh Silva (New Bedford, MA) before graduate student Hayley Miles (Londonderry, NH) and junior Avry Nelson (Methuen, MA) added RBI singles for the 4-0 edge.

Fitchburg State cut the deficit to 4-2 in the bottom of the second when senior Mackenzie Leveille (Brooklyn, CT) registered a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in freshman Kaleigh Papierski (Webster, MA), while junior Shaelyn Burns (North Attleboro, MA) followed with a run scoring fielder's choice that scored sophomore Jessica Mueller (Fitchburg, MA).

The Raiders upped the advantage in the top half of the third with junior Olivia Couto (Fairhaven, MA) crossing the plate on a wild pitch to make the score 5-2.

The Falcons answered back in their half of the third frame as freshman Paige Konopka (Middlefield, CT), Papierski, Mueller and senior Sydney Gabay (Bohemia, NY) collected RBI base knocks for the 6-5 lead.

Rivier regained the lead for good in the top of the fourth, scoring 11 runs on ten hits with junior Kylee Caetano (New Bedford, MA) registering a two-run single, while Silva, Muchemore, Miles and junior Hayley Rapaglia (Methuen, MA) added RBI base hits, resulting in the 21-6 final.

Inside the Number

• Mueller led the way for the Falcons in game one, going 2-for-3 with a double, one run scored and an RBI
• Konopka finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI for the Green and Gold
• Leveille suffered the setback for the Falcons, giving up nine runs (7 earned) on nine hits and two strikeouts
• For the Raiders, Miles hit 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and four RBI
• Sophomore Hailey Berube (Swansea, MA) picked up the win for Rivier, allowing no runs on two hits and one walk in three innings of relief

Game Two

Rivier grabbed an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first with Miles collecting an infield single that scored Caetano, while Rapaglia laced a bases clearing double to right center to drive in Couto, Miles and Muchemore.

Fitchburg State responded in the bottom of the second as freshman Ariana Baez (Methuen, MA) reached on a fielders' choice to drive in Papierski to make the score 4-1. The Raiders pushed the advantage to 7-1 in the top of the third when Rapaglia doubled to left field that scored senior Courtney Marioles (Hudson, NH) before sophomore Sophia Quinlan (Salem, NH) connected on a two-run single to center field.

The Falcons cut the deficit to 7-2 in the bottom of third as junior Adria McKenzie (Lowell, MA) doubled to left center to bring home sophomore Danielle Forth (Templeton, MA). Trailing 11-4 in the bottom of the seventh, the Green and Gold answered when Papierski blasted a two-run double to right field, driving in McKenzie and newcomer Carolyn Brodeur (Ashby, MA) before Baez followed with an RBI double to left center, scoring Papierski, but Marioles was able to record the final out of the contest for Rivier, resulting in the 11-6 final.

Inside the Number

• 24th meeting between Fitchburg State and Rivier on the softball field with the Falcons 17-7 all-time when taking on the Raiders
• Papierski paced the Falcons, finishing 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI
• McKenzie went 2-of-4 with a double, one run scored and one RBI for the Green and Gold
• Junior Madison Solt (Salem, NH) took the loss for Fitchburg State, yielding 11 runs (eight earned) on 12 hits and eight K's in the complete game effort
• For the Raiders, Rapaglia hit 4-for-4 with two doubles, three runs scored and four RBI
• Marioles earned the victory for the Raiders, allowing four runs on seven hits and one strikeout over four innings pitched

Up Next

Falcons return to action tomorrow as the travel to Bay Path to take on the Wildcat for a non-conference twin bill, starting at 1:00PM.

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