Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Ewing, NJ:  The #9/14 Ramapo College baseball team split their double header today on the road against the College of New Jersey in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Sunday afternoon in George Ackerman Park.

The Lions (13-13, 5-4 NJAC) received a solid pitching performance from junior Brendan Kelly as he tossed eight innings to lead TCNJ to a 6-4 victory in the opener. The Roadrunners (18-5-1, 5-3-1 NJAC) answered back with a 7-2 win in the nightcap as senior Frank Baldini and Dan LaRocca limited the Lion offense to six hits.

Game 1: TCNJ 6  Ramapo 4
Kelly scattered nine hits and struck out six to earn his fifth win of the season in the first game. He battled for eight innings before handing the ball over to freshman William Worswick, whoe earned his third save of the season.

TCNJ took an early lead in the second. With runners on first and third and one out, Jake DeWitt executed a squeeze bunt as Mike Murphy slid around the tag to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. The Roadrunners came back with a run in the third as Christian Spurr delivered an RBI-single to left field to score Kevin Case.

The Lions plated two runs in the fourth and fifth innings. They took advantage of some shaky defensive play in the field. DeWitt knocked in his second run of the game with a ground ball to second, and freshman Garen Turner raced home on a wild pitch to push ahead 3-1.

A two-out rally extended the lead to 5-1. The Roardrunners cut the deficit to 5-2 in sixth. Chris Werr belted his first home run of the season over the left-center field fence with two out in the inning.

The Lions capitalized on two free passes and error in the sixth to score another run without the service of a hit. Cocuzza lined a shot to center field for a sacrifice fly to score freshman Mark Mari.

Ramapo drew with two runs in the eighth. Christian Spurr poked a two-run singled to center field to make it a 6-4 game. But Kelly bared down to get the final two outs of the inning and maintain the two-run lead. Worswick retired all three batters he faced to secure the win and his third save. Cocuzza had two hits in the win.

Spurr finished with three hits and three runs batted in for Ramapo. Dave Jacob also collected two hits in the game.

Game 2: Ramapo 7  TCNJ 2
The Roadrunners produced runs in four of the first five innings to en route to a 7-2 triumph. Baldini surrendered two runs over six solid innings before LaRocca worked three scoreless innings for his first save of the season.

Ramapo jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of Kevin Kelly. The Lions encountered some misfortune as starting pitcher Steven Volpe was forced to leave the game due to injury. Rookie Evan Edelman came on in relief to get the final out of the opening frame.

TCNJ answered with a run in the first. Singles by senior Scott Kelly and junior Joe Dispoto followed by a Murphy walk loaded the bases. An infield single by Limon plated Kelly to draw within 3-1.

Ramapo tallied single runs in the third and fourth, followed by two runs in the fifth to open up a 7-1 lead. Werr and Spurr each stroked an RBI doubles before Joe Venturino hit a two-out, two-run single in the fifth. Spurr's double in the fourth inning was his 200th career hit.

Limon lifted a long fly ball to center field with the bases loaded to knock in his second run of the game. The Lions were in position to get more, but Baldini worked his way out of the jam with his fifth and sixth strikeouts to finish his day.

Edelman did a nice job filling in unexpectedly, pitching five and one-third innings. He gave up four runs (three earned) and struck out two.

Spurr collected three hits for the second straight game and was 6-for-9 with five RBIs on the afternoon. Kelly had two hits and two runs batted in, while Werr had two hits and drove in a run.

The Roadrunners return to action when they travel to NJAC rival Montclair State University tomorrow afternoon at 3:30pm.