Mahwah, NJ: The Ramapo College softball team split a NJAC double header with #25 William Paterson University this afternoon at the Athletic Center. The Pioneers took game one 6-1 before Ramapo came back to defeat WPU 5-1 in game two. The Roadrunners now stand at 16-10 overall and 5-5 in the NJAC while the Pioneers fall to 20-12 overall and 5-5 in the conference.
Game One
The led 5-0 before the Roadrunners got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning. WPU got on the board in the top of the second inning when Eleni Lutas plated pinch runner Xiomara Taylor with a single down the right field line for a 1-0 lead. The Pioneers added two runs in the third and fourth inning extending their lead 5-0.
Ramapo posted their one run in the fifth inning. With two outs
Carli Egan reach on an infield fielding error before she later scored on an error in the outfield 5-1. WPU tacked on their sixth run of the game in the sixth inning when Sydney Pace singled home Kara Molnar.
William Paterson collected 12 hits in the game while the Roadrunners only recorded five hits off of WPU starter Sarah Byrnes. Byrnes (14-5) struck out one, walked one and scattered five hits in the complete game win.
Ramapo starting pitcher
Erin Fitzsimmons (2-4) struck out four, walked four and scattered five hits in 2.2 innings of work while she surrendered three runs.
Christina Brizek worked the final 4.1 innings for the Roadrunners, she struck out one, walked one and let up three runs on seven hits.
Game Two
Ramapo scored all five of their runs in the fourth inning to take a 5-0 lead.
Shannon Cox led off with a bunt single before later scoring on a single to left-center field from
Krista Verrino for the 1-0 lead.
Nicole Hernandez reached on an error before
Harper Patsko laced a single up the middle to load the bases with only one out. Following a pitching change from the Pioneers which saw Byrnes enter the game one the mound; WPU induced a pop up for the second out before
Jackie Howarth stepped to the plate. Howarth laced a single into left field plating Verrino and Hernandez before the relay throw from left field sailed wide of home plate allowing Patsko to score. Howarth moved up to third and when the ball was thrown back towards home plate to try and get Patsko also sailed wide, Howarth was able to slide home safely for a 5-0 score.
WPU posted their only run of the game in the top of the seventh inning. Christine Griffith tripled to right field before Caitlyn Massaro poked a single up the middle allowing Griffith to touch home plate 5-1.
Katrina Buczkowski (8-1) scattered five hits in the complete game win for the Roadrunners. She struck out two, walked none and surrendered one run. Howarth finished the game 3-4 with one run scored and two RBI.
The Roadrunners return to action when they travel to NJAC rival Montclair State University on Tuesday, April 24th at 3:00pm.
