Ewing, NJ: The #25 Ramapo College softball team opened NJAC play today with a doubleheader split against rival The College of New Jersey. The Lions (9-11, 1-1) came back to win game one, 2-1, while the Roadrunners (15-2, 1-1) came back to take game two, 3-1.
Game One
In the top of the second inning, Ramapo got on the board when
Hannah Hensler connected on a two-run home run for the 2-0 lead.
Alex Hastings led off the inning with a walk to score on the Hensler home run. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, Morgan Estelow drove in two RBI to tie the game at two. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Kaci Neveling laced a double to left-center field which plated the game-winning run. TCNJ winning pitcher Maya Knasiak reached on a Ramapo fielding error before being lifted for pinch runner Kathryn Carollo.
Knasiak (7-3) struck out nine, walked six and surrendered just four hits and two runs in the complete game victory. Neveling, Estelow and Sarah Vincent all recorded two hits each for the Lions.
Kassy Stefanski (6-1) suffered her first loss in the circle as she struck out five, walked none and scattered seven hits over 6.2 innings of work.
Kori Gargiulo led Ramapo with two hits in the game as she finished 2-3 with a triple.
Game Two
TCNJ got on the board in the bottom of the second with one run aided by a Ramapo fielding error. Ramapo would hold the Lions to one run to set up their comeback in the sixth. Hensler led off by reaching on a Lion error before moving to second when Lia Milson put down a bunt single with one out.
Emily Reilly pinch ran for Hensler at second base before
Katie Rygiel moved the pair over with a groundout. With two outs and two strikes,
Avery Kontura belted her team leading ninth double of the season to plate both runners for the 2-1 lead. Gargiulo walked and Kontura stole third before
Rebecca Airel laced a single to center field to plate Kontura with an insurance run, 3-1. In the bottom of the seventh, Ramapo starting pitcher would get two quick outs needing only three pitches to do so. Marisa DiPaolo was able to get a glove on a hard-hit comebacker in the circle to fire over to Emily Erhmann at first base for the first out before she induced a fly-out to left field for the second. TCNJ would put two runners on with the aid of a Ramapo error and infield single. The Lions would put one pinch runner on at first base along with a pinch hitter. DiPaolo would get the final out of the game with a foul out down the left field line to Gargiulo as the Roadrunners posted the 3-1 win.
DiPaolo (7-1) struck out three, walked one and scattered three Lion hits in the complete game victory. Four Roadrunners collected one hit in the game with Kontura coming up big with two RBI.
Ramapo returns to action on Tuesday as they host Rutgers-Camden University for a pair of NJAC games starting at 3pm.
