Softball Upsets North Division Top-Seed Rivier, Remains Perfect in GNAC Pod Play

NASHUA, N.H. – The South Division third-seeded University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team continued the 2025 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament Friday afternoon, upsetting North Division top-seeded Rivier University (Rivier), 5-4, at Raider Diamond in Nashua, N.H. The Blue Jays served as the home team in the matchup with the Raiders. With the result, the Blue Jays (20-17) advance in the winner's bracket of Pod A and move within one game of securing a spot in the GNAC Championship Series. The Raiders (22-14) drop into the loser's bracket and will now play in an elimination game tomorrow against the winner of tonight's Albertus Magnus College and Saint Joseph's College of Maine contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• USJ grabbed the early lead after senior first baseman Alyssa Roberts (Naugatuck, Conn.) slashed an RBI double down the left field line, plating sophomore infielder Jennifer Antonowicz (Wolcott, Conn.) to establish a 1-0 edge.
• Rivier almost answered back in the top of the second, loading the bases with two outs, but starting pitcher junior Paige Fekete (Watertown, Conn.) picked up a vital strikeout to end the inning and preserve the 1-0 USJ lead.
• The Blue Jays rewarded Fekete in the bottom half of the inning, as junior outfielder Avianna Ibrahim (Colchester, Conn.) slashed a single to center field, scoring freshman outfielder Lorynes Suriel (Lynn, Mass.) to increase the gap to 2-0.
• Two batters later, Antonowicz launched a bases clearing triple to the right center gap and came around to score on a throwing error by the Raiders' center fielder extending the gap to 5-0 after two innings.
• Rivier pulled a run back in the top of the third, scoring once to close the deficit to 5-1.
• The Raiders continued to fight back, tacking on three runs in the top of the fourth to pull within one run, 5-4.
• The rest of the game turned into a pitcher's duel, as Roberts shut the door on Rivier to preserve the victory, 5-4.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Antonowicz paced the team with a 2-for-4 outing at the plate, notching two RBI.
• Roberts and Suriel also posted multi-hit games.
• Roberts and Ibrahim notched one RBI each.
• Fekete got the start inside the circle, earning a no-decision after allowing four runs, two of which were earned, off six hits and tossing four strikeouts in 3.1 innings.
• Roberts earned the win (8-7) after tossing 3.2 scoreless innings, allowing only two hits.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays continue Pod A Play tomorrow, Saturday May 3, and will meet the winner of game 7A, which features the Raiders and the winner of tonight's Albertus Magnus versus Saint Joseph's College matchup, for a chance to advance to the GNAC Championship Series. First pitch at Raider Diamond in Nashua, N.H., is set for 4 p.m.

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