NEWARK, NJ (April 23, 2007) – Ramapo registered 21 hits to power past Rutgers-Newark, 17-10, in Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium and clinch a New Jersey Athletic Conference Baseball Championship Tournament berth.

The Roadrunners (27-8, NJAC 11-4) equaled their run total of the first meeting of the teams this season in Mahwah (17-12) while the Scarlet Raiders (11-22, NJAC 7-8) slipped into seventh place in league standings. The top six teams in the NJAC make the post-season tournament field.

Senior shortstop Gary Miller (Washington Township, NJ/Washington Township HS) had four hits, including one of four doubles by the Roadrunner, and scored four times. Freshman designated hitter Joey Cacchiola (Union, NJ/Union) went three for four with a double and four runs batted in while sophomore third baseman Skyler Conte (Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon) was three for four and scored three times.

Sophomore second baseman Gino Gallagher (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) stroked a three-run homer over the left field wall in the seventh inning. Senior leftfielder Ryan Paxton (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central), who finished two for three, roped a two-run triple in the three-run third inning when Ramapo took the lead for good.

Freshman right fielder Anthony Yeswita (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ/Hasbrouck Heights) and senior shortstop John Farmer (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) each had two-run doubles as Rutgers-Newark answered six runs in the top of the second with seven runs in the bottom of the frame. Yeswita, Farmer, senior center fielder Brent DiMarco (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) and sophomore catcher Gerard Russomanno (Totowa, NJ/Passaic Valley) had two hits apiece to pace Rutgers-Newark. DiMarco doubled twice.

Freshman right hander Michael Murano (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) came on in the second to stop the Raider uprising and get the win. He improved to 3-0 on the season by going three and a third innings while yielding six hits and three walks while striking out two. Only two of his five runs allowed were earned.

Junior closer Tim Seiden (West Milford, NJ/West Milford) got his first save of the year, coming on to stop the Raiders' rally in the sixth. He closed out the contest by yielding three hits while striking out two and walking no one.