Jersey City, NJ:  The Ramapo College baseball team swept a NJAC conference double header from host New Jersey City University today, 3-1 in game one and 5-4 in game two. The Roadrunners now stand at 10-6 overall, 2-0 in the NJAC while the Gothic Knights fall to 3-7 overall, 0-2 in the conference.
 
In game one, the Roadrunners trailed 1-0 before they scored one run in the top of the fifth and sixth innings to take a 2-1 lead. In the fifth, Rafael Dela Cruz tripled before Brandon Berger singled him home to tie the game, 1-1. With two outs in the sixth, Ryan Rinsky and Kevin Kelly both walked before an infield error allowed Rinsky to score to take a 2-1 lead. In the ninth inning Joe Venturino led off with a single before he was sacrificed to second on a bunt from Scott Peschiani. The Gothic Knights intentionally walked Chris Werr before Scott Paulus laced a single through the left side of the infield allowing Venturino to score an insurance run for the Roadrunners, 3-1.
 
NJCU put the tying and winning runs on base in the bottom of the ninth but starting pitcher Walker Larson and the Ramapo defense got out of the jam to take game one, 3-1. Larson (3-1) struck out eight, walked one and scattered six hits in the complete game win.
 
The Roadrunners collected four hits in the game, Dela Cruz, Berger, Venturino and Paulus all recorded one hit apiece
 
Delio Coutinhio (0-2) only let up two hits in six innings of work for the Gothic Knights, striking out seven and walking five.
 
In game two, Ramapo got on the board in the top of the first inning with two runs on three hits to take a 2-0 lead. Rob DeAngelis walked and Venturino singled with one out before an infield ground out moved the runners up a base. Chris Werr then smacked a single to right field, plating both runners for the lead. In the second inning, the Roadrunners added one run when Berger scored on a fielding error by NJCU to take a 3-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the second, NJCU plated two runs to come within one 3-2 before Ramapo added one run in the sixth 4-2. Berger led off the sixth with a single to center field before being sacrificed to second with a bunt from Shields. He then advanced to third on a wild pitch and came home on a single from DeAngelis. The Gothic Knights came back to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. Mike Martucci ripped a double down the right field line, plating one run before an infield ground out plated the team's second run to tie the game, 4-4.
 
In the top of the ninth, Ramapo scored the eventual game winning run with two outs. Rinsky reached on a throwing error by NJCU before Matt Chemis worked a walk. Evan Ochlan pinch ran for Rinsky before Paulus was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Berger. Beger then worked a 3-2 count and was hit by a pitch forcing in Ochlan for the 5-4 lead.
 
NJCU made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth before the Roadrunners got out of the jam with a play at the plate to get the final out of the game. NJCU worked a walk to lead off the inning before being sacrificed to second with a bunt. D. Coutinho, the starting pitcher from game one, pinch ran at second base before his brother Joe Coutinho hit a pinch hit single to right field. D. Coutinho tried to come around to score the game tying run for NJCU but the Roadrunners' relay from the outfield ended the threat as catcher Dan McEldowney received the relay throw from first basemen Paulus and tagged out D. Coutinho for the final out of the game.
 
Tom Portesy struck out nine in the no-decision for the Roadrunners in seven innings of work. He scattered eight hits while walking three. Mark Doyle came in relief to get one out while Kyle Doerr (1-0) earned the win on the mound. Doerr worked the final 1.2 innings, striking out one, walking one and giving up only one hit.
 
Berger finished the game 2-3 with two runs scored and one RBI while Werr drove home two RBI of his own.
 
Rampao returns to action tomorrow afternoon at Jeff Maund Field when they host a non-conference double header against Penn State University – Berks at 1pm.