Wayne, NJ:  The Ramapo College softball team swept a NJAC double header over William Paterson University this afternoon, 10-4 and 4-3 in eight innings. The Roadrunners improve to 13-9 overall and 4-2 in the NJAC while the Pioneers drop to 14-8 overall and 1-5 in the conference.
 
Game One
Ramapo took a quick 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Jackie Howarth, Krista Verrino and Carli Egan each singled to get on before Howarth touched home plate on a pass ball for the 1-0 lead. Kristen Ruggiero walked before Harper Patsko who drew a bases loaded walk which allowed Verrino to score, 2-0. Sarah Browning then lifted a sac fly plating Egan while Olivia Mahon hit a big two-out double which allowed Patsko to score for the 4-0 lead.
 
WPU scored four runs (three unearned) in the bottom of the first inning to tie the game 4-4. Ramapo would score three more runs in the top of the second inning to take a 7-4 lead. Howarth led off the inning with a single before moving to third on Verrino's double. With no outs, Egan then laced a triple to straight away center field to plate both runs. Browning singled to center field allowing Egan to score for the three-run lead.
 
Ramapo added three more runs in the seventh. Harper Patsko and Browning led off the inning with back-to-back singles before Decker reached on a fielder's choice to third base. The throw in the infield was misplayed allowing both runners to score while Decker advanced to second base. Howarth would make it 10-4 in favor of the Roadrunners with an RBI double to center field which plated Decker.
 
Ramapo starting pitcher Erin Fitzsimmons faced just three batters in the bottom of the seventh to earn the complete game victory. She struck out seven, walked one and scattered six WPU hits while surrendering four runs (one earned).
 
Game two
The Roadrunners scored one run in the top of the second inning before they added two in the top of the third for a 3-0 lead. Olivia Mahon laced a double to left field plating Browning with the game's first run. In the third inning Patkso drove home Howarth and Egan with a two-out RBI double to extend the lead 3-0.
 
WPU scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game highlighted by a two-out two RBI double off the bat of Emma Cooney. With one out in the sixth inning Griffith ripped a triple to center field before the relay throw in from the outfield sailed wide. Ramapo left fielder Kristina Ruggiero was backing up the play and threw the ball back into Patsko who tagged Griffith out as she was diving back into third base. Fitzsimmons then got a fly out to center field to end the inning.
 
The Ramapo defense held the Pioneers scoreless in the seventh to force the game to the eighth. WPU loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh before Fitzsimmons induced a groundout to shortstop to end the threat.
 
In the top of the eighth, Egan was placed on second base as part of the international tie-breaker rule. The Pioneers caught a break as a bunt was popped up at third base before they doubled off Egan at second for the second out. Patsko then drilled her second home run of the season over the left field wall to give Ramapo the 4-3 lead.
 
Fitzsimmons would induce a pop up to third base and back-to-back to end the game as she earned the complete game victory. She struck out four, walked two and let up ten hits while surrendering three runs. The Roadrunners only collected six hits in game two while Howarth and Patsko led the team each finishing with two. Patsko also led the team with three RBI and one run scored.
 
Ramapo returns to action on Tuesday, April 9th when they host NJAC rival Montclair State University at 3pm.