Patchogue, NY: The Ramapo College baseball team used a seven-run ninth inning to defeat St. Joseph's University Long Island today, 12-4. The Roadrunners move to 3-1 overall while the Golden Eagles now stand at 3-3 overall.
Neither team scored until the Roadrunners struck for two runs in the fourth and one run in the fifth for a 3-0 lead. In the fourth,
Weston Baronian knocked in
Matt Lalomia with an RBI fielder's choice before
Zach Novakowski posted his first home run of the season over the right field wall in the fifth inning for a 2-0 score. The Golden Eagles would tie the game with a three-run home run in the sixth inning, 3-3. In the eighth,
Dominick Ciani drove in two RBI with a hard-hit single to left-center field before the Roadrunners had a big top of the ninth.
John Higgins connected on a grand slam which plated
Jack Tallent, Novakowski and Zach Bailey. Lalomia and
Robert Klawans reached base later in the inning before
Jesse Swartout belted a three-run home run to left-center, extending the lead 12-3. SJLI added their fourth run in the ninth inning on a solo home run.
Jack Martin (1-0) started on the mound for the Roadrunners and struck out ten over seven complete innings of work. He scattered four hits and gave up three runs in his first win of the season.
Ryan Lasko surrendered just one hit in the eighth in relief.
Jake Depetris worked the ninth with two strikeouts while he let up two hits and one run. Higgins led the way with four RBI in the game for the Roadrunners while Swartout added three and three runs scored. Novakowski, Lalomia, and Ciani each collected two hits each.
Ramapo looks to return to action in their home opener on Saturday, March 8th when they host Amherst College in a non-conference double header. The first game (nine innings) is set to begin at noon while a seven-inning game two will follow.
