Over the last week, Ramapo’s baseball team went 3-2, splitting games against Montclair State University (MSU) and Rutgers-Camden University on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and defeating Manhattanville College on Tuesday afternoon. The past week of games moves the Roadrunners’ record to 15-9 overall on the season, and 3-3 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).
Ramapo took care of business on Thursday afternoon against MSU, winning 6-4. The Roadrunners got on the board early, as Will Egner scored Matt Lalomia on an RBI groundout in the second inning. The Red Hawks tied the game in the third inning, as Miles Feaster recorded an RBI single, and in the fourth, MSU took a one-run lead on an Anthony Guarino RBI single.
In the top of the fifth, two sacrifice hits from TJ Roman and Jason Cuba gave Ramapo the lead back, 3-2. In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Red Hawks tied the game yet again courtesy of a solo home run from Xander Nabors.
It wasn’t until the top of the ninth inning when Ramapo retook the lead, exploding for three runs off MSU’s Alec Benzinger. Christian Alonso recorded a two-run single, scoring Lalomia and Brian Baranok, followed by an RBI single from Roman, scoring graduate student Matt Carovillano.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Red Hawks got one run back from a Sam Angelo solo home run, but it wasn’t enough, as the Roadrunners got the win, 6-4. The win went to Will Paoli, who tossed the final three and one-third innings, allowing two hits, one run and struck out three. Paoli followed Dominick Ciani, who went five and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs, five walks and tallied two strikeouts.
In Friday’s rematch, the Red Hawks defeated the Roadrunners 10-6. In the bottom of the first, Cuba scored on a wild pitch from MSU’s Michael Timberlake. The score remained 1-0 until the top of the third inning, when the Red Hawks took the lead and never looked back.
Feaster got the scoring started by coming home on a wild pitch from senior starter James Garthaffner. Ryan McKenna then scored on an error by Tyler Guadagno, which was followed by a sacrifice fly from Zach Stearns. The scoring did not stop there for MSU, as McKenna, Angelo and Jason Moore each tallied RBI hits in the fourth inning.
In the sixth, the Red Hawks added three more runs as Feaster, Angelo and Moore each tallied RBI doubles to extend their lead to 9-2. Ramapo would add two more runs in the final three innings, including one from an Alonso solo home run in the ninth inning, but it wasn’t enough as Ramapo fell 10-4.
The loss went to Will Kennedy, who allowed six earned runs in four innings. The win went to Timberlake, who lasted five and one-third innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out three.
On Saturday, Ramapo welcomed Rutgers-Camden for a doubleheader. The Roadrunners won the first game in dominating fashion, 9-4. For Ramapo, Nick Danbrowney recorded his fourth win of the year, going five innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out five batters. James Pazdera recorded the save as he threw the final four innings allowing one hit, zero earned run and striking out seven batters.
Offensively, the Roadrunners scored in each of the first four innings, including exploding for five runs in the fourth. The day was highlighted by Guadagno going four for four at the plate, tallying three RBIs and one extra-base hit.
In game two, Rutgers-Camden took care of business, winning 3-1. For the Scarlet Raptors, the win went to Ethan Carpenter, who lasted seven innings, allowing six hits, one run, one walk and tallied two strikeouts. Carpenter was followed by Gavin Cunard, who recorded the save, going two innings, allowing two hits and no runs.
For Ramapo, sophomore Jack Martin had the best start of his career, going seven shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out seven batters. The loss went to Andrew Case, who didn’t record an out in the eighth inning, allowing three runs on two hits.
On Tuesday, Ramapo dominated Manhattanville 20-6, highlighted by five RBIs from Alonso, and four from Jesse Swartout. Also recording multiple RBIs for the Roadrunners were Justin Garthaffner, Robert Klawans and Brandon Shine.
The win went to DJ McGuinness, who went five innings, allowing five runs on four hits and struck out three. The loss went to Matthew Messina, who allowed 10 earned runs on 10 hits in two and one-thirds innings.
Up next for Ramapo are two NJAC matchups in Kean University on Thursday and Friday, and a doubleheader against Rowan University at home on Saturday.
wjackso2@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of Ramapo Athletics
