Winter Haven, FL:  The Ramapo College baseball team continued their winning ways, as they held off the Redhawks of Ripon College 6-5, in 12 innings today to improve to 5-2 overall.

Ramapo tallied the first run of the game in the second inning on a David Deredita (Clark, NJ) fielder's choice scoring Jeremy Paster (Marlboro, NJ), who reached on a base on balls to open the frame. Pete Sita (Bayonne, NJ) extended the lead to 2-0 with a solo homerun with one out in the third. The Roadrunners squandered many early chances to put the game away however, leaving seven runners on base through the first four innings.

The Redhawks fought back with a single run in the top of the fifth, to cut the lead in half, 2-1. Ramapo would answer with a run of their own in the bottom of the fifth, and tack on two more in the bottom of the sixth on a Joey Cacchiola (Union, NJ) two-run single increasing the Roadrunner advantage to 5-1.

It would stay that way until the top of the eighth inning, when Roadrunner starter Michael Murano (Brick, NJ) started to tire. After getting the first batter of the inning to ground out back to him, Murano surrendered three straight singles, and gave way to freshman Matt Jenisch (Pompton Plains, NJ). Jenisch proceeded to strike out the first hitter he faced before giving up a triple to deep centerfield, which scored all three baserunners, cutting the lead to 5-4. Ramapo went quietly in the bottom the inning, giving Ripon all the momentum they needed in the top of the ninth.

Jenisch gave up back-to-back singles to open the inning, placing runners at first and third. He settled down to strike out the next hitter, and then induced what looked to be off the bat like a game ending double play. But alas, the ball was hit too slow and the runner was able to beat out shortstop Rob Dimperio's (Jackson, NJ) throw to first base, and the runner from third was able to score the tying run, 5-5. Jenisch escaped further damage by retiring the next hitter on a ground ball to second base.

With the Roadrunner bats once again silenced in the bottom of the ninth, Ripon rode the momentum to put together a rally off Jenisch. After recording the first two outs, the Redhawks strung together back-to-back hits, placing runners at first and third, and forcing Coach Rich Martin to summon John Guagliardo (Staten Island, NY) from the Roadrunner bullpen.

Guagliardo walked the first hitter he faced, loading the bases. He then went to a full count on the eighth hitter, before hitting him on the elbow with the 3-2 pitch. The Redhawks' bench exploded, but the umpire jumped out in front of home plate and quickly ruled that the batter intentionally stuck his elbow out over the center of the plate to get hit, and calling strike three. The Ramapo bats were silenced again in the bottom of the inning, so the play continued on to the 11th.

Guagliardo got the leadoff man to ground out, before allowing a walk, and was quickly removed from the game, as Martin called on Jack McDonough (Cranford, NJ) to hold the fort. McDonough quickly retired the next two hitters bringing the Roadrunners another chance to win the game. It was not meant to be, as the Roadrunners went quietly again in the 11th.

McDonough made short work of the Redhawks in the top of the frame, which set the stage for Ramapo to put an end to the game. Justin Donnarumma (Wayne, NJ) laced a one out single by the shortstop, followed by a Joe Somma (Toms River, NJ) single up the middle, giving the Roadrunners their first opportunity with two men on base since the 6th inning. Sophomore catcher Michael McGuckin (Bayonne, NJ) struck out, bringing the Roadrunners hottest hitter to the plate. Deredita lined a single to right centerfield, allowing Donnarumma to come all the way around from second base to score the game winning run.

Murano was spectacular for Ramapo in the winning effort, going 7.1 strong innings, striking out five. McDonough earned his first save of the season. At the plate, the Roadrunners were paced by Deredita who was on base four times with two singles and two walks.

The Roadrunners return to action tomorrow, taking on Suffolk College at 3pm at Chain O Lakes park.