Mahwah, NJ: The Ramapo College softball team swept a key NJAC double header this afternoon from rival Rowan University, 2-1 and 5-4. The Roadrunners improve to 16-10 overall and 7-3 in the NJAC while the Profs drop to 19-9 overall and 7-3 in the conference.
Game 1
In the third inning, Rowan's Jesse DeDomenico put the Profs on the board with a home run over the left field wall for the 1-0 lead.
In the sixth inning,
Jackie Howarth worked a leadoff walk before
Krista Verrino laced a double down the left field line allowing Howarth to score with the tying run, 1-1. Verrino advanced to third on the play before
Kristen Ruggiero laced a ball on the ground that the Rowan defense couldn't handle allowing Verrino to score for the 2-1 lead.
In the top of the seventh, the Ramapo defense went to work as Ramapo starting pitcher
Erin Fitzsimmons recorded the first two outs via a line out to third base and right field. Following a walk to Rowan's Korie Hague, Fitzsimmons worked a 0-2 count to the next batter before Ruggiero made a fantastic diving catch in foul territory in left field for the final out of the inning.
Fitzsimmons earned the win on the mound firing a two-hitter as she struck out seven and walked just one.
For the Profs, Lauren Shannon (8-4) took a no-hitter into the fifth inning before Verrino's double. DeDomenico came into the game in the fifth for Rowan on the mound and recorded the final three outs of the inning, including two strikeouts.
Game 2
Rowan got on the board with three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Sharma walked before the Roadrunners recorded the first two outs of the inning. Lombardo poked a single up the middle to put two runners on before Carli Anderson laced a ball into left field to plate Sharma for a 1-0 lead. Anderson and Lombardo advanced one base on the relay throw in from the outfield before DeDomenico plated both runs with a single of her own, 3-0.
Ramapo came back to score four runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Olivia Mahon worked a leadoff walk before she was erased on a fielder's choice off the bat of
Olivia Wang. Howarth then ripped a double off the left field wall to put runners on second and third with one out. Verrino came up big with a two RBI single down the left field line to bring Ramapo within one, 2-3.
Carli Egan took the second pitch she saw and laced a double into the right-center field gap to put runners on second and third before
Harper Patsko driving home Verrino to tie the game, 3-3. Egan came home as the relay throw back into home plate bounced away from the Rowan catch to take the 4-3 lead.
The Roadrunners added the eventual game winning run in the sixth inning. Pinch hitter
Kasie McNichol worked a 13-pitch at bat and drew a leadoff walk before moving to second on a sac bunt. Wang then poked the ball to second base which allowed McNichol to move up to third before the throw was dropped at first base allowing McNichol to score for the 5-3 lead.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, DeDomenico blasted her second home run of the day, third on the year over the left field wall to come within one, 4-5. Casandra Gerared reached on a triple down the right field line before Fitzsimmons, who entered in the fifth inning, induced a fly out to Howarth in center field to end the game.
Fitzsimmons (9-7) earned the win on the mound for Ramapo in relief. In 2.1 innings of work she scattered four hits.
Jessica Becchetti started for the Roadrunners on the mound, she scattered three hits in 4.2 innings of work. Howarth, Verrino led the team at the plate with two hits each while Verrino tallied a team high two RBI.
Ramapo returns to action on Tuesday, April 16th when they travel to Rutgers-Newark University for a NJAC doubleheader at 3pm.
