Mahwah, NJ: The Roadrunners posted a 3-2 victory over the Ospreys of Richard Stockton College today in the opening round of the 2007 New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship Tournament. Senior Beth Choma (East Brunswick, NJ) knocked in the game winner in the bottom of the 5th with a long sac fly to center. With the win, Ramapo improves to 29-6 overall while the Ospreys fall to 24-13.

The Roadrunners got on the scoreboard quick in the bottom of the 1st inning after Lauren Cascino (New Windsor, NY) walked with one out and Choma ripped a change-up over the centerfielder's head scoring Cascino to take a 1-0 lead.

The Ospreys answered back in the top of the 2nd with one run on two hits. Kelly Dodd (Linwood, NJ) ripped a double to center field to lead off and Rianna Vanchure (Manchester, NJ) hit a ground ball to second to put Dodd on third with one out. Lindsay Connell (Rahway, NJ) brought home Dodd with a single over the shortstop's head.

Senior Michele Rossi (Emerson, NJ) stepped to the plate in the bottom of the 2nd with two outs and put the Roadrunners ahead, 2-1 with a homerun over the left field wall. The long shot was her second of the year.

The Ospreys tied the game with a solo homerun to left field when lead off Jessica Williams (Bayville, NJ) stepped to the plate.

Choma hit a sac fly to center in the bottom of the 5th to bring home rookie Katie Donnelly (North Haledon, NJ). Donnelly laid down and bunt and stole second and reached third on a single up the middle from Cascino. The Ospreys walked the next batter and then posted back-to-back outs holding the Roadrunners to the one run leaving two stranded.

The Ospreys hand opportunities to score in the top of the 7th with runners on first and second with one out but a ground ball to the pitcher got the force at third base for the second out of the inning and Samantha Horner (Newfield, NJ) hit a ground ball to third base for the final out of the game.

Rossi went 2-3 with one run and one RBI while Donnelly hit 1-3 with one run. Cascino posted one hit on two at bats scoring one of her own, and Choma hit 1-2 with two RBI. Connell hit 2-3 with one RBI and Williams went 1-3 with one run and one RBI. Dodd scored Stockton's only other run hitting 1-3 in the loss.

Junior pitcher Katie Norton (Livingston, NJ) earned the win to improve to 15-2 on the year striking out five and walking only one. Norton let up seven hits and two runs, both earned, in the complete game. Stockton's Jessica Ricciuti (Toms River, NJ) started the game and was relieved after pitching 3.2 innings letting up five hits and two runs. Ricciuti struck out one before handing the ball over to rookie pitcher Kaitlyn Corica (Iselin, NJ). Corica let up the game winner and two hits in 2.1 innings pitched falling to 11-6 on the year.

Ramapo advances to play the #3 seeded Scarlet Raptors of Rutgers Camden on Friday, May 4th at the Montclair State Softball Complex at 4:00 PM. Stockton will play the #6 seeded Profs of Rowan University at 1:30 PM facing elimination.

NJAC Tournament Bracket