Mahwah , NJ : The Ramapo College baseball team recorded a doubleheader spilt with the #1 team in the nation and NJAC rival, Rowan University today in Mahwah. The Roadrunners defeated the Profs, 10-7 in game one while falling short 18-6 in game two. Ramapo finishes the day at 12-8 overall, 3-4 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference and the Profs finish at 19-2 overall, 4-2 in the conference.
Game 1: The loss was only the second of the season for #1 Rowan as they fell behind the Roadrunners, 10-7 in game one. Ramapo's JOE RIVISTO (Bronx, NY) sparked Ramapo in the bottom of the 1st with a two-run homerun over the left field wall taking a 2-1 lead. RIVISTO drove home sophomore CHRIS SORIA (Aberdeen, NJ ) who singled to left to lead off the inning. Ramapo took a three run edge in the 3rd after senior DOUG ADAY (Dallas, TX ) drove home RIVISTO and BRAD SZATKIEWICZ (Branchville, NJ ) drove in senior AARON EYLER (Edison, NJ ) who walked and doubled respectively to get on base. With a 4-1 lead after four and a half, SZATKIEWICZ ripped a single to left driving home RIVISTO and EYLER scored on a passed ball for a five run Ramapo lead. The Roadrunners scored two more in the 6th and held Rowan until the top of the 7th when senior Michael Rucci (Clayton, NJ ) drove a three-run homerun off rookie pitcher JOSEPH COPPAGE (Goldvein, VA ) to close the gap to 8-4. Rookie ANTHONY ANDRADE (Bloomfield, NJ ) ripped a single with runners of second and third driving in GARY MILLER (Turnville, NJ ) who singled to right to lead off. Ramapo added one more run in the inning taking a 10-4 edge. Giving it one last try, Rowan loaded the bases in the 9th off senior pitcher ANGEL NAVARRETE (South Plainfield, NJ) with a Matt Enuco (Pitman, NJ) walk, a Rucci single, and a Bryan Ciconte (Gibbstown, NJ) single to left. NAVARRETE walked in a run and pinch hitter Frank Hasenauer (Iselin, NJ ) ripped a two run single closing the gap to 10-7. NAVARRETE retired Roger Turley (Succasunna, NJ ) and Hasenauer was forced out at second for a Roadrunner 10-7 victory.
Ramapo posted 16 hits with ten runs while Ramapo's pitching staff held the Profs to eight hits and seven runs. COPPAGE earns the win improving to 1-1 in 6 1/3 innings striking out four and walking six. Tom McCullen (Absecon, NJ ) records his first loss of the year falling to 3-1 striking out four and walking one in four innings pitched. McCullen let up six runs and eight hits in the loss.
Game 2: The Profs scattered 21 hits across six innings recording an 18-6 game two victory over Ramapo. The Roadrunners jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first when ADAY singled to right field driving home RIVISTO who ripped a double with one out to get on base. The flood gate opened for the Profs in the top of the 3rd taking a 9-1 lead over the Roadrunners. The first three batters of the inning each ripped a single loading the bases before Rucci doubled to left field bringing home two. Sophomore Brian McLaughlin (Glendora, NJ) followed with a single to right bringing in one more and Irvin McFarland (Sewell, NJ) singled to right driving in two taking a 5-1 lead. Turley grounded out to the short stop driving in one and Matt Johnson (Atco, NJ) ripped a double scoring one and later scored off a RBI single by Frank Galeota (Berlin, NJ) to push the lead to seven. Galeota later came home on an Enuco single before the Roadrunners grabbed a third out ending the inning, 9-1 over the Roadrunners.
Before Ramapo could get another run on the board, Rowan posted five more in the 4th off four hits and one Ramapo error. The Roadrunners made an attempt in the bottom of the 5th posting five runs off three hits and one Rowan error. Four of the Roadrunners' runs came off a SZATKIEWICZ grand slam with one out in the inning. Ramapo was unable to capitalize with Rowan spreading the gap with one more run each in the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th innings defeating Ramapo, 18-6 in Mahwah.
Rookie pitcher FLORIAN WOUTERS (Ramsey, NJ ) lasted 2 1/3 innings falling to 1-1 after letting up seven hits and seven runs, striking out none. Gary Winkler Glendora, NJ) earns the win in eight innings improving to 1-0. Winkler struck out seven and walked three letting up eight hits and all six Ramapo runs.
The Roadrunners will return to action on Tuesday, April 12th at 3:30 PM.
