Harwich, MA:  The #3 Ramapo College baseball team defeated #7 Curry College 12-4 at the NCAA New England Regional at Whitehouse Field.
 
The Roadrunners (30-14) advances to the winner's bracket championship game tomorrow afternoon at 4:30pm against #4 Salem State University. The Colonels (24-14) fall into the loser's bracket and will take on #5 MIT tomorrow at 1:15pm.
 
In the top of the second inning, Connor Walsh drove home Chris Werr with a hard hit single to center field to take a 1-0 lead. Werr reached base to lead off the inning on a Curry error. Walsh then came home on a two-out single down the left field line by Brandon Berger. Rob DeAngelis was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Scott Shields, who then laced a line drive back at the pitcher. He was able to knock it down but he his throw to first sailed wide allowing all three Roadrunners to score and Shields to end up on second base for a 5-0 lead.
 
The bases were loaded with Roadrunners in the top of the third inning when the Curry pitcher was charged with a balk allowing Ryan Rinsky score to make it 6-0 before Rafael Dela Cruz scored on an infield error for a 7-0 lead.
 
Curry worked back-to-back walks in the bottom of the third inning with no outs before they moved up to second and third on wild pitch. Derek Pizarro laced a single into center field driving home the Colonels first run of the game before a second run came home when the ball was misplayed by Ramapo. Evan Morris then ripped a single to put runners on first and second with only one out and Philip Perez worked a walk to load the bases for Nick Crivello. Ramapo starting pitcher Tom Portesy got Cirvello with a strikeout looking for the second out of the inning. Ramapo second basemen Joe Venturino then made a great defensive play on a slow roller to as he fired to Walsh at first base for the final out of the inning to preserve a 7-2 lead for the Roadrunners.
 
With one out in the top of the sixth Shields reached via an infield error and stole second base before Chris Werr moved him up a base with a line drive single to center field. Scott Peschiani then drove home Shields with a single to left field 8-2 before a pitching change with one out for Curry. Vincent LoPiore recorded a strikeout and fly-out to end the threat for the Roadrunners.
 
Berger drilled a triple to center field with one out in the top of the seventh before coming home on DeAngelis' sac fly to left field to take an 9-2 lead for Ramapo. In the bottom half of the inning, Alex McLean led off with a double for Curry before William De La Cruz singled to put runners on the corners with no outs. Portesy recorded the first out via strikeout before John Arens laced a single into right field plating McLean with the team's third run of the game. Pizarro bounced into a fielder's choice forcing John Arens out at second for the second out before Morris drove home De La Cruz with a single through the left side to come within six. Philip Perez then reached on an infield single to load the bases with two outs. Portesy then got Crivello looking to end the Curry threat as the Roadrunners took a 9-4 lead into the top of the eighth.
 
Ramapo added three runs in the eighth inning as Walsh and Dela Cruz each drove in an RBI while Walsh later scored on an infield error to take a 12-4 lead.
 
John Doherty started the ninth inning for the Roadrunners on the mound, following a strikeout and a walk he started a 1-6-3 double play to end the game and seal the victory for the Roadrunners. Portesy improved to 9-1 on the year as he struck out nine, walked three and scattered eight hits in eight innings of work.
 
Walsh and Dela Cruz both collected three hits while Walsh scored two runs and drove in two RBI. Peschiani and Berger each recorded two hits as the Roadrunners pounded out 13 hits in the game.