Softball Splits with Rivier

NASHUA, NH: Fitchburg State softball split with non-conference opponent Rivier this afternoon, losing the first game in extra innings and winning the second.

THE BASICS:

- Date: 3/22/24

- Score: Rivier 9, Fitchburg 8. Fitchburg 11, Rivier 2

- Records: Rivier (7-7), Fitchburg (4-8)

HOW IT HAPPENED: Game One

-  Fitchburg held an 8-3 lead going into the bottom of the seventh before the Raiders rallied back with a five-run inning, pushing the game into extra innings. Rivier held the Falcons scoreless in the top of the eighth. The home team would walk it off in the bottom half of the inning on a triple by Hayleigh Silvia, who would come in to score on a throwing error.

- Hayley Rapaglia led the Raiders offense with a three-hit day. She pushed across one for her team while also scoring a run. Kylee Caetano and Christina Panagiotopoulos both got two hits in the contest and scored two runs. Panagiotopoulos also added an RBI to her stat line.

- For the Falcons, Molly Grass (Rockland, MA) had two hits in this one with three RBIs and two runs scored. Jessica Mueller (Fitchburg, MA) topped all hitters with four hits, including two RIBs.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  Hailey Berube (W, 4-1) pitched 2.2 innings, allowing three runs and three strikeouts.

-  Sarah Cahill (Mansfield, MA) pitched 6.2 innings in a non-decision effort with five earned runs and three strikeouts.

-  Hits: Fitchburg outhit Rivier with 16 hits to their 13.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Game Two

-  The Falcons came back with a vengeance in game two by winning via the run rule in six innings. Fitchburg took a 3-1 lead going into the fifth inning. The Falcons would plate another three to extend the lead, with the innings highlighted by a Sydney Gabay (Bohemia, NY) single to center field that plated one. The following inning, things took off for the Falcons offense as they plated five in the inning. Mueller continued to have the hot bat while bringing in two of the five with a single to left field. Gabay added to her RBI total with another single to left field, bringing in another two runs.

- Gabay finished the game going 3-for-4 with a game-high three RBIs. Danielle Forth (Templeton, MA) also had three hits in this one with two RBIs. Mueller had just one hit in this one but pushed across two and scored once.

- The Raiders had two with multiple hits. Kyleigh Burtsell and Olivia Couto both went 2-for-4.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  Madison Solt (Salem, NH) (W, 3-0) stays perfect in the circle, pitching in all six innings, giving up 10 hits and just two earned.

-  Courtney Marioles (L, 3-2) pitched the first four innings for Rivier, giving up two earned on seven hits.

-  Hits: Fitchburg 16, Rivier 10

UP NEXT:

- Fitchburg State softball will return to action on Sunday when they take on Dean at 3 and 5 PM in Franklin, Mass.

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