Union, NJ:  Sophomore Jackie Howarth drove home the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the ninth inning 5-4 as the #3 Ramapo College softball team defeated #4 Kean University today in the opening round of the NJAC Softball Tournament. The Roadrunners (24-11) advance to play #5 Stockton University on Friday at 6pm at MSU Softball Stadium.
 
The Cougars struck first in the game with two runs in the top of the first inning. Julie Raba and Olivia Zengel recorded back-to-back singles to open the game before they both moved up on a pass ball. Two infield ground outs scored both runners as Kean took a quick 2-0 lead. They added one run in the top of the second when Raba recorded an infield single allowing Samantha Krakower to score for the 3-0 lead.
 
The Roadrunners got one back in the bottom of the second inning. Junior Harper Patsko reached on a single to center field before being moved to second on a sac bunt. With two outs senior Nicole Hernandez hit her first double of the day allowing Patsko to score 3-1. In the third in Ramapo added a run when Shannon Cox drove home Carli Egan with a sac fly to cut the lead to one 3-2.
 
Ramapo would tie the game in the bottom of the seventh when Howarth drove home Egan with the game-tying run with two outs as she laced a single into left-center field for the 3-3 tie. That would send the game into extra innings as neither team would push a run across in the eighth inning. Kean scored one run in the ninth when Krakower raced home when the Ramapo defense tried to pick off Kaitlin Stahlbrand at second base for a 4-3.
 
The Roadrunners wouldn't go away quietly and came back to win the game in the bottom of the ninth. Rookie Krista Verrino and Hernandez started the inning with back-to-back singles before they both moved up on a sac bunt from senior Sisi Machinski. Egan then laced a single into left field allowing Verrino to score with the game-tying run 4-4 before Howarth stepped to the plate. Howarth took the second pitch she saw and ripped it over the left fielder's head as Hernandez was able to score for the game-winning run 5-4.
 
Howarth finished 2-5 on the day with two RBI while Egan and Hernandez both finished 3-4 with one RBI while Egan scored two runs and Hernandez scored one.
 
Ramapo starting pitcher senior Christina Brizek worked the first 3.2 innings earning the no-decision. She struck out one, walked one and surrendered six hits and three runs. Senior Katrina Buczkowski (11-2) worked the final 5.1 innings on the mound holding the Cougars to just two hits while she struck out one and walked none.
 
Jackie Riley (10-6) worked a complete game for Kean on the mound. She struck out three, walked none and surrendered 11 hits and five runs. Raba and Stahlbrand each collected two hits apiece for the Cougars. Kean returns to action on Friday in the second round of the NJAC Tournament when they take on #1 The College of New Jersey at 4pm at MSU Softball Stadium at 4pm.