Ithaca, NY: The #18 Ramapo College softball team defeated Susquehanna University 4-1 to open the 2017 NCAA Softball Championship today hosted by Ithaca College. The Roadrunners win their first NCAA Tournament game under head coach
Bridgette Quimpo and move to 30-9 overall on the year. The River Hawks fall to 29-15 overall and play at 1:30pm tomorrow afternoon in an elimination game.
Harper Patsko got the Roadrunners on the board in the bottom of the first inning with her fifth home run of the season, a three-run shot over the left field fence for a 3-0 lead.
Jackie Howarth and
Ally Spellman reached on back-to-back singles to lead off the inning before Patsko stepped to the plate.
Heather Pearson led off the top of the sixth with a single to right center before Jackie Gore laced a double to right field plating the team's first run of the game 3-1. Ramapo starting pitcher
Erin Fitzsimmons and the Ramapo defense worked out of the River Hawk threat inducing two fly outs and a line out to first to end the inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth Ramapo tacked on one more run to take a 4-1 lead.
Nicole Hernandez singled before being lifted for pinch runner
Carly Vadinsky.
Sisi Machinski drove a 3-2 pitch into the right center field gap for a double allowing Vadinsky to slide home safely.
In the top of the seventh inning, the River Hawks' Kasey Bost led off with a single to left field. Fitzsimmons then induced two fly outs to right field while Patsko snagged a ground ball and fired to
Nicole Mahoney for the final out of the game.
Fitzsimmons (13-3) struck out one, walked one and scattered five hits in the complete game victory. Six different Roadrunners collected one hit in the game as Patsko led the team with three RBI.
Jamie Fesinstine (14-8) took the loss for the River Hawks as she struck out two, walked two and surrendered six hits to the Roadrunners. Five different players each collected one hit in the game for the team.
The Roadrunners are making their second appearance in the NCAA Tournament in the last three seasons and the seventh overall. Ramapo was recently ranked #18 in the latest NFCA Top 25 poll.
