Winter Haven, FL:  The Ramapo College baseball team held off a late rally by McDaniel College, thanks in part to a controversial swinging strike three call to end the game. McDaniel jumped on Roadrunner starter Joseph DeHart (Toms River, NJ), touching him for two runs in the first inning, and then three in the fourth inning, as the Green Terror pulled ahead 5-1 before William Schmolze (Califon, NJ) relieved DeHart, and the Ramapo bats awakened.

Pete Sita (Bayonne, NJ) led off the Roadrunner fourth with a walk, Mike Manges (Glen Rock, NJ) lifted a fly ball to left field that was misplayed by the leftfielder and landed safely, and Justin Leon (New City, NY) singled through the left side to load the bases. One out later, Rob Dimperio (Jackson, NJ) walked to drive in a run, followed by a Michael McGuckin (Bayonne, NJ) line drive up the middle plating two more, giving the Roadrunners a 6-5 lead. Ramapo would tack on single runs in the 6th and 7th to extend the lead to 8-6.

Schmolze held the fort, as he gave up only one unearned run until the 8th inning, before being replaced by senior Joey Cacchiola (Union, NJ).  Cacchiola gave up back to back base hits following a rocket to the shortstop Dimperio, which took a bad hop into the fielder's throat. Jack McDonough (Cranford, NJ) came in for the last out in the 8th.

Ramapo added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the 8th, with the rally getting started by freshman Jeremy Paster's (Marlboro, NJ) leadoff single. Sita followed with a single of his own, followed by a sacrifice bunt from Justin Donnarumma (Wayne, NJ). Joseph Somma (Toms River, NJ) lifted a sac fly to left field scoring Paster. John McGuckin (Bayonne, NJ) capped the rally by singling up the middle, scoring Sita, and giving the Roadrunners a 10-7 lead.

After getting two quick outs in the 9th, McDonough sandwiched a walk between two singles, which brought the go ahead run to the plate. McDonough ran the count to 2-2, when he threw a slider in the dirt that the batter seemingly checked his swing. The home plate umpire appealed to the base umpire, who punched the batter out ending the game.  The final score was 10-8, as Schmolze picked up his first win of the season, and McDonough recorded his first save of the year. Sita was on base four times, and David Deredita (Clark, NJ) collected three hits to help the cause.

The Roadrunners stand at 4-2, and will continue their southern trip tomorrow, taking on Ripon at 2:30 p.m.