Mahwah, NJ: The #2 ranked Rowan University softball team swept a pair of games today against visiting Ramapo College. The Profs (33-1, 11-1 NJAC) won game one, 5-2 and won game two, 6-1. The Roadrunners drop to 23-6 overall and 7-5 in the conference.
Game One: Rowan 5, Ramapo 2
Katie Rygiel singled to lead off the game before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Avery Kontura. Two walks loaded the bases with two outs before
Hannah Hensler singled home Rygiel for an early 1-0 lead. Rowan's Liz McCaffrey led off the bottom of the first with a triple before scoring on a single off the bat of McKenzie Melvin to tie the game, 1-1. Ramapo would retake the lead in the top of the second as they scored one run.
Lia Milsom and Clay'le Correa-Vanness recorded back-to-back singles to start the top of the second before Kontura singled with one out to load the bases.
Kori Gargiulo worked a bases-loaded walk to push home Milsom before Rowan got out of the one-out jam. Rowan starting pitcher Rylie Lutz induced back-to-back ground balls as the Profs defense got the next two outs. Rowan would take the lead for good in the fourth inning as they scored four runs on five hits and one Ramapo error for a 5-1 lead.
Lutz and the Prof defense would hold Ramapo from scoring the remainder of the game to earn the victory. Lutz (14-0) walked five and surrendered six hits in the complete game while she struck out three.
Marissa DiPaolo (11-3) struck out one, walked two and let up nine hits and five runs for the Roadrunners in the circle. Correa-Vanness led Ramapo at the plate, finishing 2-3.
Game Two: Rowan 6, Ramapo 1
Rygiel and Kontura hit back-to-back singles in the top of the first before the Rowan defense turned a double play and Prof starting pitcher Emily McCutcheon induced a flyout to end the inning. Rowan would come back to score four runs in the bottom half of the inning for a quick 4-0 lead. In the second inning, Rowan scored on a sac fly from Melvin, 5-1. Ramapo scored their lone run in the top of the fourth inning when
Kori Gargiulo singled and
Ysabellah Otero laced a double to the left-center field gap to plate Gargiulo, 1-5. The Profs scored an unearned run in the bottom half of the inning to push the lead, 6-1. Liz McCaffery led the Profs at the plate, finishing 3-4 with two runs scored, while Abigail Pawlowski finished 2-4. McCutcheon (15-1) struck out two, walked one, and let up six hits over seven innings of work for the Profs.
Kassy Stefanski (7-2) took the loss in the circle for the Roadrunners. She let up five runs on six hits in two complete innings of work.
Brooke Knight finished the game in relief with one strikeout, two walks, five hits, and one unearned run in the final four innings.
Ramapo returns to action on Saturday, April 19th, when they host Stockton University in NJAC action at 1pm. The Roadrunners will honor their senior class before the doubleheader.
