Mahawh, NJ: The Ramapo College baseball team split a NJAC conference double header today against the Scarlet Raiders of Rutgers Newark University. The Scarlet Raiders took game one, 11-7 while the Roadrunners came back in game two, 5-2. The Roadrunners improve to 19-16 overall and 9-9 in the conference while Rutgers Newark stands at 20-15 overall, 8-10 in the conference.

Junior Joey Cacchiola (Union, NJ) ripped a double to left centerfield in the first inning to plate senior David Deredita (Clark, NJ) who reached on a single and moved to second base on an error by the left fielder. The Scarlet Raiders batted around and would take the lead in the third inning when the scored eight runs on five hits and one Roadrunner error.

Ramapo came to life in the eighth inning when they scored four runs on four hits to come within six runs, 11-5. Sophomore Rob Dimperio (Jackson, NJ) doubled down the left field line and advanced to third on Deredita's single to left before senior Gino Gallagher (Cedar Grove, NJ) walked. Cacchiola then doubled down the leftfield line to pick up two RBI before pinch hitter Joesph Somma (Toms River, NJ) hit a sacrafice fly to leftfield scoring Gallagher. Cacchiola came around to score on Joseph Della Serra's single to right field.

The Roadrunners would not go away quietly as they scored two runs in the ninth. Michael Mauriello (Monroe, NJ) singled to left field and came around to score when Michael McGuckin (Bayonne, NJ) ripped a double to left centerfield. With two outs Gallagher singled to center field plating McGuckin before the Scarlet Raiders would get a strike out to end the game, 11-7.

Ryan Williams (Kearny, NJ) picked up his sixth win of the season, he pitched 7.2 inning with seven strikeouts only surrendering eight hits and five runs.

In game two, Ramapo would take a 2-0 lead in the third inning. They would load the bases before the Scarlet Raider pitcher balked a run home to score Della Serra who ripped a single to center field earlier in the inning. Mauriello plated the second run when he knocked home Cacchiola with a sacrafice fly to left field to go up, 2-0.

Rutgers-Newark would get one back in the fifth inning when Brian Gill (Wall, NJ) grounded out to short stop allowing Mike DiCenso (Wayne, NJ) to score from third base, he singled to lead off the inning. Ramapo made it a 3-1 game when Mauriello ripped a home run over the right field wall in the sixth inning. They would load the bases later in the inning but the Scarlet Raiders would get out of the jam to preserve the 3-1 game.

The Scarlet Raiders would load the bases in the top of the 8th inning on a walk, hit and a Ramapo error before another Ramapo infield error allowed Anthony Yeswita (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ) to score.

Ramapo tacked one run on in the bottom of the eighth inning when Deredita crossed home plate on junior Pete Sita's (Bayonne, NJ) single to center field, 5-2.

Sophomore Tim Hannes (Allendale, NJ) recorded a complete game picking up his fourth win of the season (4-2). He struck out six over nine innings of work while only giving up six hits.

Deredita and Della Serra were each 2-4 with one run scored while Cacchiola was 2-5 with two runs scored.

With the win the Roadrunners clinched 5th place in the 2009 NJAC playoffs. They will travel to #2 Montclair State University on April 28th for a 3:30 PM.