Montclair, NJ: The Ramapo College baseball team split the home-and-home series with Montclair State University today as the Red Hawks came back with a walk off win, 5-4. The Roadrunners stand at 14-7 overall, 3-1 in the NJAC while the Red Hawks now stand at 7-9 overall, 2-2 in the conference. Ramapo defeated MSU at home yesterday afternoon, 5-3.
Ramapo trailed 1-0 heading into the top of the third inning before
Joe Venturino drove home
Brandon Berger with a single to tie the game 1-1. MSU drew a bases loaded walk to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth before the Red Hawks scored three more runs aided by a fielding error by the Roadrunners to take a 4-1 lead. MSU did not record a hit in the bottom of the fifth inning.
In the top of the sixth, Ramapo cut the lead in half when
Scott Paulus doubled home
Chris Werr before they tied the game in the seventh. Venturino and Werr each collected RBI singles.
Rafael Dela Cruz walked, moved to second on a sac and came home on Venturino's single to center field. Venturino moved to second on the throw from the outfield before Werr drove him home with a single of his own to tie the game at four.
In the bottom of the ninth for the Red Hawks, Corey Martin singled before Ramapo relief pitcher
Kyle Doerr recorded a strikeout for the second out. Martin stole second base before Kevin Alonso took a 1-2 pitch into right field allowing Martin to come around for the game winning run for the Red Hawks, 5-4.
Ramapo outhit the Red Hawks in the game, 9-3. Venturino was a perfect 4-4 at the plate with one run scored and two RBI while Werr finished 3-5 with one run scored and one RBI. Starting pitcher
Mike Campbell (2-1) struck out six and walked five over 8.1 innings of work while he scattered two hits in his first loss of the season. Reliever Doerr came in for relief in the ninth with one out; he struck out one and surrendered one hit.
The Roadrunners return to action tomorrow at Jeff Maund Field with a doubleheader against NJAC rival Stockton University beginning at 11:30am.
