MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Suffolk baseball put up lopsided numbers over the first two innings to put Rivier in a hole it never climbed out en route to a 12-5 victory over the Raiders Friday afternoon at Griffith Field at the Ripken Experience.

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 12 | Rivier 5
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-2) | Rivier (2-6) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk put three runs on the board in the top of the first to take a lead it never let go of. Back-to-back walks put Rams on first and second before Harry Painter hit into fielder's choice set up runners in the corner situation. Painter made a move to steal second and Jonny Gilbride, who led off with a walk, capitalized and stole home to open the scoring. Marc Birbiglia's base hit up the middle plated painter and two batters later Garret Roberts used a single of his own to score Joe Ward, who reached on a fielder's choice. 

Suffolk continued its offensive output in the top of the second with two outs. Gilbride kept the inning going with a single to left and Harder worked a base on balls to put two ducks in the pond for Painter. The pitcher sent a no doubter over the right center fence to double the distance, 6-0.   

Suffolk did not stop there though as Marc Birbiglia drew a walk, which forced Rivier to make a change on the rubber. The new arm was no match for Ward has he barreled a jack to right center to extend the advantage to 8-0.

The score stood still until the bottom of the fifth when Rivier used two hits two eliminate the shutout.  

Following a scoreless sixth, base hits, hit by pitches and a sac fly resulted in three more runs for the Rams to push the margin to double digits, 11-1. Roberts and Michael James Jr. collected RBI on their singles, respectively, while Michael Cole chipped in one RBI on a sac fly. 

Rivier managed to get another run on the board in the home half of the inning to turn off the run rule and added another tally in the eighth to make it a 11-3 game. 

Suffolk continued its scoring in the ninth when Harder's single to short brought in Max Iorio, who ran for Roberts after the third baseman led off the inning with a doubl to left field. 

Rivier scored twice in the last inning before Ward gloved the last out with a highlight-reel catch in center field for the 12-5 final.   

PITCHERES PICTURE

• Painter put together a one-run, two-hit, two-walk, nine-strikeout performance in 5.0 innings to secure the win.
• Jake Washock logged the save with 4.0 innings of relief work with four runs, five hits and two walks allowed.
• Rivier's starter Nolan Mederos took the loss after giving up seven runs on four hits and four walks with three strikeouts in 1.2 innings.
• Four other arms came in to throw for the Raiders. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• In addition to his pitching performance, Painter produced two hits at the plate, including one home run, for three RBI to go along with three runs scored and one stolen base.
• Ward registered two hits, both extra base knocks in a double and a homer. He scored three times and brought in two with one stolen base on his stat line as well.
• Roberts contributed a 3-for-5 effort with a double, for two RBI and one run.
• Gilbride added a 2-for-4 effort and was swift on the base paths with three stolen bases.
• Harder had two hits, one RBI, one run and two stolen bases.
• James Jr. added two hits and one RBI. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk renewed a rivalry with Rivier, meeting for the first time since April 6, 2019.
• The Rams won their sixth straight meeting with the Raiders to move to 39-6 in the all-time series.
• Suffolk put up double-digit runs over Rivier for the second straight meeting.
• The Rams rocked two bombs in a single game for the first time since sending two balls out of the park in the CCC Play-In 9-3 victory over Gordon (May 9).
• Painter produced his first win as a Ram. He had personal-best numbers in innings pitched (5.0), batters faced (20) and strikeouts (20).
• Painter struck out a batter for the first time in a Suffolk uniform.
• Painter's first homer of the season is the 13th of his collegiate career.
• Painter stole a base for the second time in his collegiate career, first since March 17, 2022.
• Gilbride has multiple hits in all three of the Rams games this year.
• Gilbride and Painter both have hits in all three of Suffolk's contests this season.
• Gilbride set a new personal-best in stolen bases with three swipes.
• Harder drew two walks for the third time of his career, first since April 3, 2022 against Lasell.
• Ward went yard for the first time this season, eighth time in his Suffolk career.
• Armbruster played in the field for the first time his college career.
• Cole brought in a run as a Ram for the first time.

POST-GAME PIC

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk is set to play against Plymouth State tomorrow, Sunday, March 12 at 1:00 p.m. at Socastee High School as part of the Ripken Experience.