Mahwah, NJ: The Ramapo College baseball team swept a pair of NJAC games against visiting the College of New Jersey today at Jeff Maund Field. The Roadrunners won game one 21-9 while they came back in game two for a 7-3 victory. The Roadrunners improve to 14-8 overall, 2-3 in the NJAC while the Lions drop to 11-13 overall and 2-4 in the league.
Game #1: Ramapo 21, TCNJ 9
TCNJ scratched one run across in the top of the second before Ramapo scored six in the second, four in the third and seven in the fourth to take a 17-1 lead. All six runs in the second were unearned as the inning was highlighted by an RBI double down the left field line from
Nick Pellegrino. In the third,
Julian Caruso worked a walk with the bases loaded before
Jack Tallent singled to right-center to pick up two RBI, 9-1.
Zach Novakowski recorded a sac fly to plate Caruso to push the score 10-1. The bases were loaded in the fourth as Tallent was hit by a pitch to force home
Braden Schappert before Novakowski and Nicke Pellegrino each worked walks with the bases loaded to bring home two more runs, 13-1.
Julian Schultz was hit by a pitch to force home Tallent before Knap grounded out to first which allowed Novakowski. Schappert picked up two RBI with a hard-hit single to extend the lead, 17-1 The Lions added four in the fifth before Ramapo tacked on another three in the bottom half of the inning. Dere Brand drove in an RBI with a single to right-center while Knapp drew a bases loaded walk before Schappert knocked in the final run of the fifth with a single for the 20-5 lead. TCNJ scored four in the top of the eighth while the Roadrunners posted their final run in the bottom of the inning as Brand laced a double to left field which allowed
Colin Kassai to score, 21-9.
Schappert led the team at the plate as he finished 4-4 with three runs scored and three RBI while Tallent finished 2-2 with two runs scored and three RBI. Novakowski also drove in three RBI with one hit and two runs scored.
John Hacker (3-1) struck out seven and walked three to earn the win on the mound for the Roadrunners.
Game #2: Ramapo 7, TCNJ 3
Michael Zalinkanskas (5-1) earned the win on the mound for Ramapo in game two as he struck out seven over six complete innings while limiting TCNJ to just two hits and three runs. Carlo Lalomia, Jr. earned his third save of the season as he struck out three, walked one and surrendered just one hit in three complete innings.
TCNJ scored three runs in the second inning for the early lead. Antionio Destribats drew a bases loaded walk to force home Braden Dromboski before Jack O'Donnell put down a sac bunt which allowed Chris Salmon to score for the 2-0 lead. Nate McLaughlin beat out an infield single to short stop to pick up the RBI as Brian Lovaglio touched home plate, 3-0. In the second inning,
Zach Barbash drew a bases loaded walk to force home Schultz to put Ramapo on the board before
Brandon Tauber singled home
Eric Knapp. In the fourth, Schappert laced a single to center field to tie the game as Schultz came around to score, 3-3. Tauber drove in the eventual game-winning RBI with a hard hit single up the middle as Knapp and Schappert each scored for the 5-3 lead. In the eighth inning, Ramapo extended their lead with two more runs. Barbash picked up an RBI sac bunt as Knapp scored and Tauber drove in his fourth RBI of the game with a single through the right side of the infield as Schappert came around to score, 7-3. Schappert and Tauber each collected three hits to lead the Roadrunners while Knapp finished 2-3 with three runs scored.
Ramapo returns to action on Monday, April 6th when they take on #5 Kean University in a rescheduled NJAC game. The game has been moved to Kean University with the Roadrunners remaining the home team. First pitch is set for 3:30 PM.
