Nashua, N.H. -- In what felt more like a crisp autumn evening in the middle of April, the Mount Ida softball team recorded 31 base hits over two games while splitting their Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) double-header against Rivier University at Raider Diamond on Wednesday night.
Mount Ida shut out Rivier 6-0 in game number one, and then suffered an 11-9 decision in game two, despite scoring runs in all seven innings of the nightcap.
The split raises the Mustang's overall record to 8-18 (7-11 GNAC), while Rivier improves to 9-19 (3-13 GNAC).
Game One: Mount Ida College 6, Rivier University 0
Mount Ida freshman Shannon McArthur (Coventry, R.I.) blasted a first inning two-run home run and the Mustangs pounded out 18 hits as they went on the win the first game 6-0. McArthur finished the contest going 2-for-5 with 2 RBI and freshman Kaitlyn Muhlenforth (Bohemia, N.Y.) went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in the game one win for Mount Ida.
Michele MacDonald (North Dighton, Mass.) went 4-5 with a pair each of RBIs and runs scored, as she singled to knock in a Mustang in the top of the second and the top of the fourth.
Nickole Soto (Marlboro, Mass.) added an RBI single to score MacDonald as the Mustangs scored three runs in the fourth to double their advantage to 6-0.
Coming off of her no-hitter last time out, freshman Nicole Handzel (Palmer, Mass.) improved to 7-10 on the season as she tossed a complete game shutout, allowing just six hits and striking out 11 to add to her single season record, which now stands at 121 strikeouts for the season.
The Raiders managed just six hits, including sophomore Lia Bobek (Hollis, N.H.) going 2-for-2 in the loss.
Sophomore hurler Libby Sammon (Rockland, Mass.) took the loss as she tossed four innings allowing all six runs (four earned) on 12 hits and striking out two. Senior Kirstie Clark (Brentwood, N.H.) pitched the final three innings and did not allow a Mustang to touch the plate and struck out three.
Game Two: Rivier University 11, Mount Ida College 9
The Raiders exploded for nine runs in the first inning as they held on for an 11-9 game two victory against the Mustangs.
Mount Ida freshman Emma Morton (Winchester, Mass.) went 3-for-4 with a RBI and a double while classmate Lucianna Medici (Riverside, RI) added a solo blast on her 1-for-4 night in the game two loss. McArthur and senior Kirsten Guerrero (Fairfield, Conn.) each went 2-for-4 in the nightcap, with Guerrero driving in a pair of runs in the first to give Mount Ida the 2-0 lead, which was quickly erased in the bottom of the frame by the Raiders.
Rivier sophomore Taylor Miller (Haverhill, Mass.) earned her second win of 2014 as she spun six innings of work giving up eight runs (five earned) on 12 hits and recording one strikeout. Clark came in for the seventh and allowed just one run as she earned her first save of the season.
Muhlenforth took the loss as she allowed all eleven runs – six earned – on 9 hits and two strikeouts.
Rivier was led by senior Nicole Peacock (Warwick, R.I.) who went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, 2 RBI and two stolen bases. Freshman Destiny Jordan (Lawrence, Mass.) and Nicole Scotti (Concord, N.H.) knocked in two runs each on their 1-for-3 nights and Bobek added another two hits as she finished 2-for-3.
Mount Ida will host the University of Saint Joseph in their next scheduled contest on Friday afternoon beginning at 3pm.
These were the final two home games for the Raiders in 2014, who will travel to Suffolk University tomorrow afternoon (3:30pm) in a make-up from an April 5th washout.