Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

NASHUA, N.H. – Rob Knox went 4-for-5 with four RBIs and five runs scored as the Norwich University baseball team split its Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader with Rivier College Sunday afternoon at Holman Stadium. The Raiders took a 13-8 decision in the opener, but the Cadets rallied for an 11-7 win in the nightcap.

Knox, who extended his hit streak to 12 straight games with multiple hits in both ends of the twinbill, went 11-for-12 over the course of the weekend. His tremendous performance at the plate helped the Cadets take three of their four games and vault into the middle of the conference playoff picture.

Norwich (5-19, 4-6 GNAC) remains in a tie for sixth place in the conference standings with Albertus Magnus. The Cadets swept the Falcons yesterday, so if the postseason began today, Norwich would be the No. 5 seed. The top six teams all qualify for the conference tournament.

The Cadets jumped on top 1-0 in the first inning of the opening game on Knox's sacrifice fly. The Raiders responded with two runs in the second inning and three more in the third to establish a 5-1 advantage.

Norwich got three runs back in the top of the fourth inning to close the gap to 5-4. Knox and David Maxfield both rapped out RBI singles in the frame, and Knox came around to score an unearned run to account for the scoring in the inning.

Rivier pushed one run across in the bottom of the fourth to make it 6-4, but Norwich tied the score in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI double by Knox and a run-scoring single by Dustin Fleming.

The Raiders moved in front for good in the bottom of the fifth as they plated five runs to assume an 11-6 lead. Both teams scored two runs apiece in the sixth inning to round out the scoring.

Knox was 2-for-2 with three RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Norwich offense in the opener. Maxfield and Mitch Blair each added two hits apiece for the Cadets.

David Wygonski (1-3) took the loss on the mound for Norwich, allowing 11 runs on 11 hits over 4.2 innings of work.

Rivier (3-16, 2-8 GNAC) scored twice in the bottom of the first inning of the nightcap to take a 2-0 lead. The Cadets sliced the Raiders lead in half in the top of the second as Knox led off inning with his second home run of the season.

The Raiders extended their advantage to 4-1 with two runs in the bottom of the second, but the Cadets took a 5-4 lead in the top of the third inning as they scored four unearned runs without a hit. NU took advantage of three walks and two errors to move in front for the first time in the contest.

The inning started harmlessly enough for Rivier as the first two batters were retired routinely. Dustin Shimkus then reached on an error by the third baseman, and the next three batters were walked to force in the first run of the frame. Then, after a pitching change, Fleming was hit by a pitch to force in another run. The Cadets scored their third run of the inning on a wild pitch, and they added the final run of the frame on a fielder's choice that was botched.

Rivier tied it up at 5-5 in the bottom of the fourth inning, but a two-run single by Maxfield in the top of the fifth gave Norwich a 7-5 advantage.

The Raiders got one run back in the bottom of the fifth, but Norwich added two runs in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh to seize full control of the contest. Rivier added one run in the bottom of the seventh, but the Raiders could not creep any closer as Norwich held on for the victory.

Knox went 2-for-3 with one RBI and three runs scored to lead the way offensively for the Cadets. Shimkus, Fleming, Joe Sleeman and Kase Cook each added two hits apiece to aid Norwich's 12-hit attack.

Conar Mahon (1-0) took advantage of the offensive production as the freshman picked up his first career victory in the complete game effort. Mahon allowed seven runs on seven hits and six walks. He struck out four batters.

Norwich returns to action on Tuesday, April 13, when the Cadets host in-state rival Lyndon State College in a non-conference doubleheader at Garrity Field. First pitch for the opening game is slated for 2 p.m.