Glassboro, NJ: The Ramapo College softball team defeated Rowan University in the NJAC Tournament Semifinals, 2-0. The Roadrunners (31-7 overall) win their eighth straight game and hand the Profs just their second loss this season. The Profs (40-2 overall) moved on to play Kean University in game nine of the tournament, the winner advancing to play Ramapo in the NJAC Championship game on Sunday at 11:00am.
Rowan led off the first inning with a single and a hit by pitch before Ramapo catcher
Hannah Hensler threw out a Prof a third base with a great tag from Yasbellah Otero on an attempted double steal.
Kassy Stefanski would induce a fly ball out and a strikeout looking to end the inning. Rowan would leave two stranded in the top of the second before Ramapo would leave the bases loaded in the bottom half of the inning. In the top of the third inning,
Marissa DiPaolo would enter the game in the circle for the Roadrunners. A leadoff walk and an infield ground out, put a runner in scoring position for the Profs. DiPaolo would get a fly ball out and a foul out to left field to end the threat. Ramapo scored their two runs in the bottom of the third inning.
Alex Hastings worked a four-pitch walk before
Kori Gargiulo moved her to second with a sac bunt.
Avery Kontura then laced an RBI single to right-center field which allowed Hastings to score for the 1-0 lead. Otero and
Sophia Diaz worked back-to-back walks before
Hannah Hensler hit a ball back to the pitcher for a fielder's choice. The Profs got the first out at home and tried to turn a double play with an out at first but the ball sailed wide allowing Otero to touch home plate, 2-0. DiPaolo made quick work in the top of the fourth needing to throw just seven pitches with a ground out, infield pop fly to first and a strikeout swinging to end the inning. Rowan would put runners on base in the final three innings while the Roadrunners were able to get out of each inning with the lead.
DiPaolo (14-4) picked up the win in relief for Ramapo as she struck out three, walked one and scattered four hits in the final five innings of action. Stefanski worked the first two innings as she struck out three, walked none and scattered three hits in the combined shutout.
Rylee Lutz (18-1) gave up three hits, two runs (one earned) while she struck out one and walked five for the Profs in the circle in three innings of work. BethAnne Doderer worked the final three innings for Rowan as she did not let up a hit while striking out two.
The Roadrunners seek the program's second NJAC Tournament Championship tomorrow morning when they face the winner of #1 Rowan/#5 Kean at 11:00am.
