Softball wins second game of doubleheader against Stevens

In their first two home games of the season, the Ramapo softball team split a doubleheader with Stevens Institute of Technology (SIT). The Roadrunners now sit at 14-4 on the year and SIT fell to 11-9.

The Roadrunners dropped game one by a score of 4-0. Stevens got out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to an Olivia Warner RBI double. After that, a pitching duel ensued between Ramapo starter Mahogany Wheeler and Stevens starter Ella Tozduman.

Ramapo’s first real scoring chance came in the bottom of the fifth as they loaded the bases following singles from Jaclyn Monaco and Katie Rygiel and a walk by Alexis Corra. However, the Roadrunners left them stranded. SIT put the game away with three unearned runs in the top of the seventh against Marissa DiPaolo.

“We have so many talented girls and so much depth on our team. Every single person has played a huge role in our success so far this season.”

– Jaclyn Monaco

Wheeler took the loss for Ramapo despite going five and one-third innings and giving up only one run. She gave up seven hits, struck out one and walked nobody. Wheeler now stands at 4-2 with a 3.44 ERA on the season.

Game two started much more favorably for Ramapo. After Kassy Stefanski pitched a shutout top of the first, Rygiel led off the bottom of the inning and was eventually brought in by a Wheeler RBI single, giving the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead. 

Katie Rygiel is hitting .419 on the season. Photo courtesy of Ramapo Athletics

That score held until the bottom of the fourth when Ramapo tacked on two runs. Rygiel drove in Monaco and Nicole Cerasi on a two-run single into left.

The Roadrunners doubled their score total in the bottom of the fifth inning. Anna Messina drove in two runs, one on an RBI single and another scored on an error. Alex Hastings scored on a wild pitch in the following at-bat, pushing the score to 6-0. Ramapo scored two more in the sixth inning, pushing the game to end with a score of 8-0.

“We have so many talented girls and so much depth on our team,” said Monaco on the team’s success. “Every single person has played a huge role in our success so far this season.”

Stefanski pitched a gem for the Roadrunners. She went the full six innings, did not allow a run and only allowed three hits. She now stands at 5-2 in her rookie year.

Monaco, who recorded two more stolen bases in these two games, now stands at 18 on the season. She currently leads the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) in that category. 

“I think something that has truly helped me this season is knowing my role on this team,” said Monaco. “As more of a small-ball player, my job is to get on base and then rely on my teammates to get me in. Putting the team first has helped take pressure off of myself to do well or have the best stats.”

Ramapo will return to action on Saturday in the team’s first NJAC game of the year against Stockton University. It will be a doubleheader and the first pitch of game one is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

 

bschmid@ramapo.edu

Featured photo courtesy of Nancy Rygiel