Mahwah, NJ: The Ramapo College baseball team opened up their New Jersey Athletic Conference season against the Scarlet Raiders of Rutgers Newark today in Mahwah. The Roadrunners came out on top 17-12 to raise their record to 14-4 overall and 1-0 in the NJAC while Rutgers Newark fell to 4-14 on the year and 0-1 in the NJAC.

The Scarlet Raiders jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first as three walks lead to three runs. Ramapo got one back in the bottom half of the inning as John Callandrello (Montville, NJ) ripped a double to right centerfield which scored Justin Rabinowitz (Martinsville, NJ) who reached on a walk.

Rutgers Newark scored one run each in the third, fourth and sixth innings to put them on top 6-1. Ramapo then tied the game scoring five runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Gary Miller (Washington Twp., NJ) walked to lead off the 6^th and Joe Cacchiola (Union, NJ) doubled to center field before Nick Sbarra (Washington Twp., NJ) singled to right field to plate Miller and Cacchiola. Mark Ruggiero (Fairfield, NJ) walked and Rabinowitz doubled to left centerfield to pick up two RBI's and he later scored from third base on a pass ball to tie the game up 6-6.

The Roadrunners took the lead in the bottom of the 7^th scoring four runs on four hits. Cacchiola and Sbarra had back to back singles and advanced a base on a pass ball before Ruggiero walked to load the bases. Rabinowitz then ripped a single to right field to plate the seventh run of the game. Jairo Jimenez (Bronx, NY) picked up two RBI's when he hit a single up the middle to plate Sbarra and Ruggiero. Their fourth run of the inning came when Callandrello hit a sacrifice fly to left field to put the Roadrunners up 10-6.

Ramapo scored seven runs in the bottom half of the 8^th inning with seven hits. Miller reached on a single and scored on Cacchiola's double to center field and Sbarra knocked him in on a single up the middle. Ruggiero picked up a RBI as he doubled to center field to plate Sbarra before Callandrello singled past the second basemen to score Ruggiero. Gino Gallagher (Cedar Grove, NJ) then walked with the bases loaded and pinch hitter Steve Libert (Wayne, NJ) ripped a single to left field to pick up two RBI's, to put the Roadrunners on top 17-6.

Rutgers Newark had a late rally in the top of the 9^th scoring six runs on three hits. Doug Ford (Neptune, NJ) knocked in one run with a single to right field and Brian Gill (Manasquan, NJ) doubled to center field to plate Tom Callari (Oradell, NJ) who was hit by a pitch and Mike DiMattia (Sewell, NJ) who walked earlier in the inning. Brent DiMarco (Nutley, NJ) then walked with the bases loaded to plate Ford before Dan Zika singled to centerfield to pick up the Scarlet Raiders final two runs.

Tim Seiden (West Milford, NJ) picked up the win for Ramapo pitching 1.2 innings, surrendering only one hit and striking out two.  Adam DiLorenzo (Maywood, NJ) took the loss for Rutgers Newark falling to 0-2 on the year.

Sbarra was 3-4 with three runs scored and three RBI's and Rabinowitz was 2-4 with four runs scored and three RBI's. Callandrello and Cacchiola were both 3-5 on the day, Callandrello picked up three RBI's and a run scored while Cacchiola had three runs scored and one RBI.

The Roadrunners return to action tomorrow when they take on NJAC rival Montclair State University at Jeff Maund Field starting at 3:30 PM.