Box Score Glassboro, NJ: The Ramapo College baseball team rallied for five runs in the ninth inning to defeat Rowan University, 12-7 in the second round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament on Thursday.
The score was tied (7-7) after eight innings. In the top of the ninth, second baseman
Anthony Vinci (jr. Trumbull, CT/St. Joseph) led off with an infield single. He moved to second on a base hit by left fielder
Dave Jacob (jr. Vernon, NJ/Vernon). Center fielder
John Capuano (so. Ramsey, NJ/Ramsey) recorded a bunt single to load the bases. Vinci crossed the plate on an error with third baseman
Christian Spurr (jr. Warren, NJ/Watchung Hills) at bat. Designated hitter
Matthew Hancock (jr. Old Lyme, CT/Xavier) ripped a single through the left side, knocking in Capuano and Jacob. Spurr scored on a wild pitch and Hancock came home on shortstop
Marco Carolla's (sr. Landisville, NJ/Buena Reg.) single.
The remainder of the double elimination tournament will be played at Jim Hynes Stadium in Union, NJ on Saturday-Sunday, May 5-6. On Saturday, May 5, Ramapo (30-11) plays Kean University (29-10) at 8:30 a.m. Rowan (29-12) will face The College of New Jersey (23-19) at 11:30 a.m. The loser of the Ramapo/Kean game will take on the winner of the Rowan/TCNJ contest at 2:30 p.m. In the other second round game on Thursday, TCNJ eliminated William Paterson University (29-13), 5-1.
The NJAC champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. Ticket prices for all rounds are $5 for adults and $2 for students with ID, senior citizens and children.
Right-hander
Travis Zilg (jr. Green Brook, NJ/Watchung Hills) earned the win in relief. He (6-2) tossed two innings, allowing one earned run. Righty Ryan Peterson (sr. Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) took the loss. He (6-2) gave up five runs, four earned in the top of the ninth without recording an out.
Hancock led the Roadrunners with three hits (four at bats), four RBIs, two runs scored and a double. Carolla went two for six with three RBIs. Capuano produced three hits (four at bats), two runs scored and one RBI. Spurr added two hits (five at bats), three runs scored and one RBI. Jacob collected two hits (four at bats) and three runs scored. Right fielder
Dan Mauriello (sr. Monroe, NY/Monroe Woodbury) and Vinci each scored once.
For the Profs, first baseman Sean Kelly (jr. North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) was three for four with three RBIs, two runs scored, a home run and a double. Shortstop Marc Magliaro (sr. Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.) registered one hit (five at bats) and three RBIs. Second baseman Brandon Winkler (sr. Glendora, NJ/Paul VI) had one hit (three at bats) and one run scored. Third baseman Mark Benak (so. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) contributed with two hits (six at bats) and one RBI. Center fielder Felix Colarte (sr. North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) tallied one hit (five at bats) and one run scored. Catcher Nick Turano (sr. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) scored twice, while left fielder Nick Kreiger (fr. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) crossed the plate once.
Ramapo scored two runs in the first and second innings for a 4-0 lead. Spurr and Hancock each picked up a RBI in the first. Capuano drove in Mauriello in the second and Jacob came in on a wild pitch. Rowan came within one (4-3) after scoring two runs in the bottom of the second and one in the third. Magliaro hit a two run single in the second and Kelly doubled in Turano in the third.
The Roadrunners added three runs in the fourth to extend the advantage to four (7-3). Hancock plated Capuano with a single and Carolla's double scored Hancock and Spurr. Rowan recorded one run in the fifth and seventh innings to pull within two (7-5). Kelly hit a solo homer to right field in the fifth and he had a sacrifice fly in the sixth that brought Turano home. Rowan tied the game (7-7) in the eighth. Kreiger was hit by a pitch and Winkler followed with a base hit. Benak's single down the left field line knocked in Kreiger. Magliaro grounded out and Winkler scored
