Union, NJ: The Ramapo College softball team split a pair of games at the 2017 NJAC Softball Championship Tournament today. The #1 Roadrunners defeated #4 Rowan University (31-9) 4-2 before they fell to #3 Kean University 5-0. The Roadrunners (29-8) move to game nine of the tournament tomorrow morning at 10am against #5 Stockton University (23-19-1).
Game 1 @ MSU: Ramapo saw themselves down 2-0 after three innings of play to Rowan. Mia Baldassari led off with a double and moved to third on a sac bunt before Gianna Genello laced a single down the left field line plating Baldissari with the first run of the game 1-0. Genello was able to take second base on the play when the ball skipped away from the Ramapo left fielder before Carly Anderson singled her home with a hit to right field to take a 2-0 lead.
Grace Brennan got Ramapo on the board in the top of the fifth inning with a solo home run over the left field fence, her sixth home run of the season. In the sixth inning Ramapo would score two runs on two hits to take a 3-2 lead.
Harper Patsko led off with a double before the Profs would record the first two outs of the inning. Kristen Ruggerio reached on an infield single before Brennan was intentionally walked to load the bases for
Nicole Hernandez. Hernandez lifted a fly ball into short right field that was misplayed by the Rowan defense allowing Patsko and Ruggiero to score.
In the seventh Ramapo added an insurance run to take a 4-2 lead. With one out
Ally Spellman singled before
Nicole Mahoney walked to put runners on second and first with two outs.
Shannon Cox then ripped a single into center field allowing Spellman to score.
Rowan would put the game-tying runs on base with two outs in the seventh before Ramapo starting pitcher
Erin Fitzsimmons induced a fly out to center field to end the threat. Fitzsimmons (12-3) struck out four, walked one and surrendered eight hits in the complete game win.
Game 2 @ Kean: The Cougars jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Caroline Ratti led off with a walk before she came around to score on a Dana Knapp double off the right field wall.
In the top of the third inning Kean would add two more runs, both with two outs. The bases were loaded when Olivia Zengel reached on a error allowing Tatiana Yourstone to score before Taryn DiGiacomo worked a four pitch walk to push Knapp home for a 3-0 lead. Cayleen Rizo put Kean up 5-0 with a two-run home run down the left field line in the top of the sixth.
Ramapo could not push a run across in the game as the Cougars shutout the Roadrunners for just the third time this season, they also snap Ramapo's 12-game win streak. Kean advances to the NJAC Championship game tomorrow at noon.
