Mahwah, NJ: The Ramapo College baseball team opened the 2026 season with a 10-8 road win over Centenary University.
The Roadrunners (1-0 overall) jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the second inning after two runs scored on a Cyclone's error.
Zach Novakowski drove in two more runs for the team with a two-RBI double in the fourth, plating
Eric Knapp and
Jack Tallent, 4-0. In the fifth,
Casey Chiola plated Will Enger with an RBI single before Tallent drove a single to left field allowing Chiola to cross home plate, 6-0. Centenary (0-1 overall) plated three runs in their half of the fifth to cut the Ramapo lead in half, 6-3. Dustin McGuiness drove a double to the left field gap in the sixth as
Dan Maglio came around to score before Knapp bounced into a ground out as McGuiness scored, 8-3. The Cyclones added one run in the sixth before Ramapo added two in the seventh. Novakowski belted his second double of the game to pick up his third RBI as
Julian Schultz scored before McGuiness plated Tallent with a sac fly, 10-4. The Cyclones plated four runs in the eighth before the game was called due to darkness as Ramapo took the game, 10-8.
Michael Zalinkanskas (1-0) earned the win on the mound for Ramapo. He struck out six and walked one and surrendered just five hits and three runs (all earned) in five innings of work. Ramapo belted out 12 hits in the game including five doubles. Novakowski led the team at the plate finishing 2-4 on the day with three RBI and two doubles.
The Roadrunners return to action on the road on Sunday, March 1st when they travel to Washington College (MD) for a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12pm.