Mahwah, NJ: The #1 seeded Ramapo softball team, behind a RBI from
Sisi Machinski, posted a 3-2 victory over the #6 seeded Red Hawks of Montclair State University in the opening round of the 2017 New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship Tournament. Ramapo advances in the winning bracket and faces #4 Rowan on Friday at 4pm.
It took nine innings for a winner to be determined as Machinksi would drive in the winning run for Ramapo with bases loaded and one out in the 9th.
Shannon Cox led off the inning with a single to right field,
Kristen Ruggiero singled to left and
Grace Brennan was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After a fielder's choice play catching the runner advancing home, Machinski would step to the plate and rip a ball to left field to bring home Ruggiero, the game winning run.
To get to extra innings, Montclair scored a run in the 3rd inning when Kaylee Powers crossed home plate on a single from Elena Radesich, but Ramapo's
Jackie Howarth ripped a two-run home run to go up 2-1 in the 5th. Machinski would score on the play as she reached first base on a fielder's choice. The Red Hawks would tie the game in the top of the 6th when Lia Stamile smacked a double to center field driving home Bryanna Luciano. Luciano got on base as she pinch ran for Valentina Cucci. Cucci singled to lead off the inning.
In the extra innings, MSU would make a threat with one hit in the 8th and two in the 9th but
Christina Brizek would shut down the Red Hawks giving Ramapo the 3-2 victory.
Machinski finished the game hitting 1-3 with one run and one RBI while Howarth went 1-4 with one run and two RBI. Ruggiero hit 1-4 with a run as
Ally Spellman hit 2-3 in the win. Brizek gets the win in three innings pitched. She struck out two and walked two facing 11 batters. She improves to 7-2 on the year.
Erin Fitzsimmons started the game for Ramapo and pitched six innings, striking out four and walking one. She let up seven hits and two runs.
Kiara Ruiz pitched the complete game for MSU. She falls to 3-2 on the year as she struck out one and walked two facing 32 batters.
Stamile hit 3-4 with one RBI, Radesich went 2-4 with one RBI, and Powers hit 1-4 with one run scored.
The Red Hawks will take on Stockton on Friday in an elimination game at 2pm as the tournament moves to Kean University.
