Union, NJ: The #3 seeded Ramapo College softball team came back to defeat the #2 seeded College of New Jersey this afternoon, 4-2. The Roadrunners move to 30-7 overall and advance in the tournament to face #1 Rowan University in game seven scheduled for Tuesday, May 6th at 11:00 AM.
TCNJ struck first in the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. Reigning NJAC Player of the Year, Julia Kinnally launched a home run over the center field fence for a 1-0 lead. In the top of the seventh inning,
Sophia Diaz led off and took the second pitch she saw and connected on her second home run of her career to tie the game, 1-1. Mikayla Yard laced a lead-off single for TCNJ in the bottom of the seventh to put the game-winning run base. Ramapo starting pitcher
Marissa DiPaolo induced a strikeout and back-to-back fly outs to end the Lion threat. The Roadrunners scored three runs on two big hits in the top of the eighth to take a 4-1 lead. With one out,
Kori Gargiulo was hit by a pitch before
Avery Kontura put down a sac bunt as Gargiulo advanced to second. With two outs,
Ysabellah Otero laced a double to left-center field which allowed Gargiulo to score, 2-1.
Niah Murphy pinch ran for Otero before
Sophia Diaz worked a full-count walk with two outs.
Hannah Hensler took the first pitch she saw and ripped a two RBI double to extend the lead, 4-1. TCNJ would make it interesting in the bottom of the eighth inning. Following the first out of the inning, Kaci Neveling singled before moving to second on a groundout for out number two. Kinnally laced a hard-hit single through the right side of the infield which allowed Neveling to score to cut the Ramapo lead in half. DiPaolo induced a ground out to shortstop
Katie Rygiel as she fired to Diaz at first base for the final out of the game.
Six different Roadrunners recorded a hit in the game while Hensler led the way driving in two RBI. DiPaolo (13-4) worked a complete game with strikeouts and two walks while she scattered five hits.
Maya Knasiak struck out five, walked one and let up four hits and one run in the circle for TCNJ. Elizabeth Gosse (9-9) took the loss for the Lions in the circle as she struck out two, walked one and let up two hits and three runs in the final two innings of action. TCNJ will play in an elimination game against #5 Kean in game six scheduled for tonight at Kean University.
