Montclair, NJ: The Ramapo College softball team defeated Stockton University 3-1 in the second round of the NJAC Tournament tonight at MSU Softball Stadium. The Roadrunners improve to 24-11 overall while the Ospreys now stand at 24-17.
Ramapo advances to game seven of the tournament and will face #1 the College of New Jersey at 11am at MSU Softball Stadium. The winner advances to the championship game on Sunday while the loser will play in game nine later in the afternoon.
The Roadrunners, who have won 12 of their last 14 games, got on the board in the top of the first inning for a quick 1-0 lead.
Jackie Howarth led off with a single to right field before she advanced to third on two infield ground outs.
Christina Brizek beat out an infield single in the hole between shortstop and third base allowing Howarth to score for the lead.
In the fourth inning Ramapo would extend their lead 3-0.
Krista Verrino led off with a single before
Carli Egan poked a single through the left side with two outs. Howarth walked to load the bases and
Ally Spellman then drove a single into right field allowing both runners to score.
Stockton got one run back in the bottom half of the fourth when pinch hitter Nicole Petrovich drove home Morgan DiVello with a single down the left field line. The Ospreys would bring the game-winning run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning. Following a pitching change to start the inning for Ramapo, Meg Murzello drew a four-pitch walk for Stockton. Roadrunner reliever
Katrina Buczkowski induced a foul out followed by a strikeout before Alexa Massa singled to second base. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch before Buczkowski got a strike out swinging to end the game.
Buczkowski earned her first save of the season with two strikeouts in the seventh inning. Ramapo starting pitcher
Erin Fitzsimmons (5-4) struck out four, walked three and scattered six hits in six innings of work. Ramapo collected 12 hits in the game as Egan finished the 3-3 with one run scored while Brizek finished 3-4 with one RBI.
