NORTHFIELD-- Sean Gerich (Chicago, Ill.) had a huge day at the plate, going 5-6 and reaching base seven times and the Norwich University baseball team earned a split against visiting Rivier College, dropping game one of a doubleheader, 3-1, before winning the nightcap, 8-5.

With the split, Norwich moves to 6-18 overall and 5-9 in GNAC play. Five conference wins is an improvement over just one a year ago and also allows the Cadets to control their playoff destiny heading into the final day of the conference season.

Various scenarios can get the Cadets back in the GNAC playoffs for the first time since 2010, but a sweep of tomorrow's games with Anna Maria guarantees a Norwich playoff appearance.

In game one, the Cadets fell behind 2-0 in the top of the first inning due to some early struggles by senior Brad Hudson (Eugene, Ore.), but Hudson settled in nicely to give the Cadets five innings of two-hit ball on the mound, while giving up just the two runs and adding six strikeouts.

Norwich answered back in the top of the third inning when Gerich walked and advanced to second as the pitch had rolled to the backstop. He advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Brian Baker (Keene, N.H.) and eventually scored on a two-out single by Mike Doyle (Weymouth, Mass.).

Norwich was otherwise unable to solve the Raider pitching, striking out 13 times before ultimately falling 3-1.

Game two was a different story for the Cadet offense, who pounded out 10 hits and scored in four different innings.

Gerich led the way, going 3-3 with two runs scored and Doyle checked in with two more hits of his own.

The Raiders picked up one run in the top half of the first against freshman Jacob Muetterties (Boxford, Mass.) before Norwich got its own scoring started in the first when Gerich led off the inning with a single and advanced on another Baker sacrifice. He reached third on a passed ball and came home on another RBI from senior Dustin Shimkus (Collinsville, Ill.).

The Cadets tacked on two more in the second when junior Charles Schaub (East Hampton, Conn.) was hit by a pitch and Gerich drew a walk. Baker then singled to load the bases and Shimkus brought Schaub on an RBI groundout before Gerich scored on a wild pitch.

Norwich broke the game open in the third, scoring four times thanks to RBI singles from Nicholas Gendron (Alstead, N.H.) and Schaub, along with a Raiders balk and a groundout from John Flanagan (West Groton, Mass.)

Muetterties earned his first collegiate victory, tossing five strong innings, striking out six. Scott Yashinski (Kintnersville, Pa.) worked the sixth, yielding one run and freshman Brian Whaley (St. Louis, Mo.) worked a perfect seventh for his first save.

Tomorrow's doubleheader begins at 1 p.m.

--CADETS--