Rivier Softball Sweeps GNAC Weekly Awards

Nashua, NH – After winning the 2010 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) softball championship over the past weekend, the Raiders received more good news as five players awarded weekly honors from the GNAC. After playing their way onto the all-tournament team, freshmen Taylor Cournoyer (Mansfield, MA) and Mandy Thornton (Hanover, MA) were listed on the GNAC honor roll for the week, while three other teammates were given even higher regard.

Junior Amanda Ryan (W. Bridgewater, MA) was named the GNAC Player of the Week after helping the team to the conference title. Ryan was also part of the all-tournament team as she hit .400 during the week, leading into and including the playoffs. Ryan went 6 for 14 with 4 walks for a .526 on base percentage, all while splitting time behind home plate catching and playing first base. She recorded a 1.000 fielding percentage during the week, not making any errors in 65 attempts.

Freshman Marissa Mercier (N. Smithfield, RI) was named the GNAC Rookie of the Week after hitting 8 for 19, recording a .421 batting average with 4 RBIs and 5 walks. Marissa also splits time with Ryan behind the plate and at first base, recording only 1 error on 43 attempts for a .977 fielding percentage.

Senior pitcher Monica White (Augusta, ME) was named GNAC Pitcher of the Week for the fifth time this season. After being named tournament MVP, GNAC Pitcher of the Year and GNAC Player of the Year, Monica is well deserving of her five weekly honors. Over the past week Monica went 4-1, including all three wins in the GNAC tournaments, with a 0.92 ERA. She pitched in 38 innings recording 61 strikeouts and allowing only 5 earned runs. White also came up big at the plate, hitting .360 while going 9 for 25 with two doubles, one triple and 3 RBIs. White was 3 for 3 in stolen base attempts and recorded a 1.000 fielding percentage.