Ewing, NJ: The College of New Jersey (26-13, 14-5 NJAC) softball team swept Ramapo College today 4-0 in game one and 3-2 in game two to earn the #3 seed in the NJAC Softball Tournament. The Roadrunners finished the regular season with a 21-13 overall record, 11-7 in the conference and earned the #4 seed.
The 2016 NJAC Softball Tournament begins Tuesday with the highest seed hosting the first round. The games then move to #1 Rowan University for the remainder tournament. Ramapo will travel to the College of New Jersey on Tuesday for the opening round game slated to begin at 4:00pm.
Game 1: TCNJ broke open the game in the bottom of the fourth inning scoring four runs on six hits. The Lions got an RBI single from Jess McGuire to plate the first run before Deanna Utter plated two runs with a double to left field. Steph Vuono poked a single to center field plating the fourth run of the inning. TCNJ starting pitcher Sam Platt (15-4) struck out seven, walked one and surrendered only three hits in the complete game win.
Katrina Buczkowski (9-6) struck out two, walked none and scattered six hits over 3.2 innings of work.
Erin Fitzsimmons worked the final 2.1 innings with one strike out, two walks and three hits.
Game 2: Madison Levine walked in the second inning with one out before Jess Santelli knocked her in with a double to take a quick 1-0 lead for the Lions. TCNJ got out of a bases loaded jam in the third inning.
Sara Bielamowicz came into the game on the mound with one out and the bases loaded before she induced two infield pop ups to end the Ramapo threat.
Ramapo scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning for a 2-1 lead.
Melanie Walling reached base to lead off the inning by being hit by a pitch before
Megan Wall pinch ran for her.
Grace Brennan ripped a single to center field before
Melissa Moreno moved the runners up one base with a sac bunt. Ramapo starting pitcher
Christina Brizek then ripped a double plating both Wall and Brennan for the lead.
TCNJ came right back in the bottom of the fifth and scored two runs. Levine was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning before Deanna Utter laced a triple to right field plating the game tying run. Utter later scored on an infield groundout for the 3-2 lead.
Bielamowicz (2-1) held the Roadrunners in their final two at bats to earn the win for the Lions. She struck out one, walked one and surrendered two hits and two runs.
Brizek (12-4) took the loss for the Roadrunners on the mound. She struck out one, walked one and let up four hits and three runs.
The two teams return to action on Tuesday afternoon in Ewing in the opening round of the NJAC Tournament at 4:00pm.
