NASHUA, N.H. -- After falling to Rivier College, 5-4 in game one, the Simmons Sharks rebounded in game two behind a breakout pitching performance by sophomore Jen Field (Windham, Maine) to shut out the Raiders in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action Monday evening.

Game One

For the Sharks, Lauren Backhaus (Windsor, Conn.) struck out seven in 6.1 innings of work while going 2-for-4 at the plate and adding a run to her cause. Emily Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.), Victoria Luongo (Medford, Mass.), and Cailin Pagel (Dorchester, Mass.) each drove in a run for Simmons.

In a complete game, two-strikeout performance by Hillary Tarr, the Raiders walked off in the bottom of the seventh inning after Tarr drove in classmate Nicole Peacock. Peacock was 2-for-3 in the game while scoring two of the four Raider runs.  Senior Marissa Mercier and freshman Kathryn Mostone each had two hits in contest. Mostone and classmate Danielle Worthington each had an RBI in the Raider victory.

Game Two

In a pitcher's duel in game two, the Simmons Sharks came out on top after scoring all seven runs in the top of the seventh plagued by defensive mistakes and mental miscues by the Raider defense. In her collegiate pitching debut, Jen Field gave up just three hits and struck out seven, throwing a complete game for the Sharks.

The Sharks scored seven runs in the top of the seventh after six scoreless innings of play. Backhaus singled up the middle and then advanced to third off a sacrifice bunt by Mikaela Caracciolo (North Attleboro, Mass.). Heather White (Westfield, Mass.) reached on an error by the third baseman to score Backhaus and Field reached on an error by the Raiders to score Caracciolo. Sophomore Hannah Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) hit her first triple of the year to drive in two runs and senior Ari King (Westford, Mass.) followed up with a double to score Cunningham. Alaina DeNoncour (Johnston, R.I.) doubled to send King around the bases and Backhaus reached on an error at her second at bat of the inning to score DeNoncour for the Sharks final run.

With the split Rivier's overall record stands at 10-13 and 7-7 in GNAC play. The Raiders return to the field tomorrow when they will face Newbury College under the lights on Raider Diamond.  Simmons is now 16-7 overall with a 9-4 record in conference play. The Sharks return to action on April 10 when they will travel to Newton, Mass. to face Lasell College at 4:00 p.m.