MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Junior 1B Thomas Keough (Plainville, Conn.) went 3-for-4 with two runs, a double, and an RBI to lead the Western Connecticut State University Wolves to a 9-8 victory over the Rivier University Raiders in baseball action this afternoon at the Ripken Experience Complex.  WestConn, which was beaten, 4-3, by the Raiders in the opener of the today's doubleheader (two 7s), is now 4-1, their best start since 2016, and will play two tomorrow against the McDaniel College Green Terror at noon.  Rivier moves to 2-6.

Trailing, 2-0, after a half inning, WestConn scored twice in the bottom of the first and four times in the second to take a 6-2 lead early in game two of the doubleheader.  Wolves junior 2B Ryan Vallie (East Haven, Conn.) walked and scored on a two-out single by rookie Giani Chieffalo (Danbury, Conn.). Keough, who had singled in the inning, scored the game-tying run on a Raider error after Chieffalo's hit. 

In the second inning, freshman Joe Fasano (Waterbury, Conn.) led off with the first of three consecutive Wolves singles and scored a go-ahead run on the third base knock of the three by senior OF Peter Coniglio (New Milford, Conn.).  WestConn sophomore Nick Lobuono (Trumbull, Conn.) drove home senior Josef Rosa (Fort Lee, N.J.) and Coniglio with a double and scored later in the inning on an RBI groundout by Chieffalo.  Rivier chipped away with two runs in the fourth and one each in the fifth and the sixth to tie the game at 6-all.

Keough gave WestConn back the lead with an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth frame.  Junior SS Bryan Birkl (Farmingdale, N.Y.) drove home Keough with a single and Chieffalo delivered a double to plate Birkle and give the Wolves a 9-6 lead.  Rivier scored two unearned runs in the top of the seventh inning before Fasano retired the third out on a fly to center with the tying run on base.  Sophomore reliever Brandon Payne (Milford, Conn.) earned three outs without an earned run and struck out one in the sixth to collect his first career victory.

WestConn nearly swept the Raiders, having tied the first game in the sixth inning only to be left on the field in the bottom of the first extra frame.  Wolves junior righty Brian Mansfield (Lynbrook, N.Y.) pitched into the eight and struck out eight  but took the loss.  Chieffalo singled and doubled for two of the Wolves' four hits in the opener.  Lobuonbo singled and scored the game's first run in the fourth, but River tied it in the bottom of the fourth and scored twice in the fifth.  Sophomore Billy Untiet (Prospect, Conn.) and Coniglio had RBI groundouts in the sixth to tie it but the Wolves were hitless in the seventh and eighth innings.