Rivier Women’s Softball Capture 2008 GNAC Championship

Rivier went into the Championship day needing only 1 victory to win the GNAC Championship and earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Pine Manor came out in Game 1 determined to give Rivier a fight. The Gators jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning on an error and 3 consecutive base hits. PMC pushed another run across in the 3rd and 2 more in the 7th to put the finishing touches on Game 1. The Raider offense was only able to produce 1 run on 5 hits. Junior Ann Marie Day, sophomores Jillian Robar and Brenna Campbell and freshmen Nikki Bondanza and Shannon Mansfield each picked up a hit for Riv. Sophomore Monica White got the start and got banged around for 3 runs on 6 hits in 4 innings of work. Sophomore Brenna Campbell came on in relief and struck out 3 in 3 innings pitched.
 
Game 2 was a different story as the Raiders settled their nerves and got down to business. Rivier jumped out front with 2 runs in the top half of the 2nd inning. Senior Kim Pease got on base to start things off after the catcher dropped a 3rd strike. Sophomore Brenna Campbell followed with a single. Head's up base running by Pease got her to 3rd base. Junior Ann Marie Day stepped up and delivered a sacrifice fly to left field to score Pease. Sophomore Jillian Robar followed with an RBI single of her own in the very next at-bat. Rivier received outstanding offensive performances by sophomores Monica White and Sara Wilson who each finished 3 for 4. Senior Aimee Fullford did a great job in the leadoff spot as she got on base in 3 of her 4 at-bats. It was the defense of Jillian Robar and junior Jenna Beadle, however, that helped the Raiders take home the Championship Trophy. With Rivier up 2-1, the Gators had runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs in the 6th inning. A base hit was sent out to Robar in left field. The runner at 2nd rounded 3rd and headed for home with what would have been the game-tying run. Robar fired the ball to Beadle who tagged out the runner. Beadle then hucked the ball to 3rd baseman, Nikki Bondanza, who laid a tag on another baserunner to complete the double play. Sophomore Monica White then struck out the final batter of the 6th to end the threat. White pitched a solid 7 innings in picking up her 20th win of the season. She yielded just 1 run on 9 hits while striking out 9.
 
Sophomore Monica White was named the Tournament's Most Valuable Player.
 
The Raiders now await word from the NCAA Selection Committee to see who their first-round opponent will be and where the game will be played. This will be the first appearance in the National Tournament for the Raider Softball Program.

Courtesy: Rivier Athletics