Mahwah, NJ: The Ramapo College baseball team opened their home season today at Jeff Maund Field on the campus of Ramapo College. The Roadrunners were defeated by Western Connecticut, 11-3, falling to 8-3 overall while the Colonials improve to 6-7.

The game was scoreless until the top of the 4th when junior Josh Coleman (Terryville, CT) hit one over the fence to lead off giving the Colonials a 1-0 edge. Anthony Puccio (Brightwaters, NY) reached on an error and later scored when teammate Jim Dunn (New Fairfield, CT) reached on an error to get on base. TJ Tarantino (Rutherford, NJ) scored on a passed ball and Dunn touched the plate on a RBI single by Chris Kaplan (Stratford, CT) taking a 4-0 lead after 3 ½ innings. Western Connecticut added three more runs in the 5th by Coleman and Justin McCulloch (Waterbury, NJ) on a double by Eben McKnight (Windsor, CT), and Puccio on Dunn's sacrifice fly to center field. Ramapo finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the 6th when senior DOUG MEIER (Clifton, NJ) singled with one out and later scored on a sac fly to center by rookie Steve Santorella (Redding, CT). The Colonials jumped out to an 11-1 lead after 6 ½ and Ramapo recorded two more runs in the bottom of the inning falling 11-3 in Mahwah. The game was called after seven due to darkness.

McCulloch went 3-5 with two runs and three RBI while Kaplan posted two hits on four at bats with one and one. Coleman recorded two runs while Puccio added two of his own. Rookie Josh Bertash pitched a complete game earning the win and improving to 2-0 with two strikeouts and two walks.

For the Roadrunners, JON LOPEZ (Bronx, NY) and DOUG ADAY (Dallas, TX) hit 2-4 in the loss. LOPEZ added one run while MEIER hit 1-4 with one run and one RBI of his own. GARY MILLER (Turnville, NJ) posted the Roadrunners' third run after pinch running for sophomore BRAD SZATKIEWICZ (Branchville, NJ). DAVE CAHOON (Haskell, NJ) recorded the loss letting up five hits and five runs in four innings pitched. CAHOON falls to 0-1.

Ramapo will travel to Nyack tomorrow for a 6:00 PM start time.