Union, NJ: The #5 seed Stockton University softball team came back to defeat #1 seed Ramapo College 7-6 today in game nine of the 2017 NJAC Softball Championship Tournament. The Ospreys advance to the championship game against Kean University at noon. With the loss, the Roadrunners (29-9) will wait to see if they earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The selection show will air on NCAA.com on Monday at 1pm. Ramapo is ranked #1 in the latest NCAA East Region poll in games played through May 4th.
 
Ramapo got on the board with four runs in the top of the third inning. Nicole Hernandez led off with a double before an error and bunt single loaded the bases with no outs. Ally Spellman lifted a sac fly to right field allowing Hernandez to score with the team's first run 1-0. Jackie Howarth stole second before Harper Patsko reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases for Nicole Mahoney. Mahoney ripped a double off the left-center field fence scoring Howarth and Sisi Machinski while the relay throw in from the outfield got away from the Stockton defense which allowed Patsko to score for a 4-0 lead.
 
Stockton got two runs back in the bottom half of the inning with two unearned runs to cut the Ramapo lead 4-2. The Ospreys added a single run in the fourth inning to come within one 4-3 before Ramapo added two runs in the sixth inning extending their lead 6-3. Mahoney led off the inning with a walk before moving to third on a sac bunt and infield ground out. Grace Brennan walked before Hernandez laced a single to center field plating Mahoney 5-3. Machinski then smacked a double down the left field line allowing Brennan to score for the 6-3 lead.
 
The Ospreys would score two runs in the sixth, both unearned to come within one 6-5 before they plated two runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the game 7-6. In the seventh a walk, single and walk loaded the bases with no outs before a Alexandra Cosenzo infield single plated the game-tying run as Carli Shaw crossed home plate. Following a force out at home plate Ashley Lobell worked an eight-pitch walk to force home Holly Arentowicz with the game-winning run.
 
Paige Merle (2-2) took the tough loss in relief for the Roadrunners on the mound. Christina Brizek who started the game and later re-entered earned a no-decision. Brizek struck out two, walked one and scattered six hits over 5.2 innings. Hernandez and Mahoney each collected two hits in the game to lead Ramapo at the plate.