Ramapo’s baseball team played five games over the last week, losing twice to Kean University, splitting a doubleheader with Rowan University and defeating Cairn University. After the week of play, the Roadrunners sit at 17-12 on the season and 4-6 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).
Beginning with their two games against Kean, neither matchup was particularly close as the Cougars won the first game 16-1 on Thursday, and followed up their strong performance by winning 16-2 on Friday.
On Thursday, Dominick Ciani got the start for the Roadrunners, going four innings, allowing nine hits, eight runs (six earned), four walks and did not record a strikeout. Kean’s Gianni Marano took the hill for the Cougars, going seven innings, allowing one unearned run on five hits and striking out three.
Following Ciani for Ramapo was Troy Karaty, who allowed three runs in three innings. Sebastian Spahn came in relief of Karaty and allowed five earned runs in two-thirds of an inning. Andrew Case finished the game for Ramapo, tossing one and one-third scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out two batters.
Kean’s offense instantly came alive thanks to a first inning grand slam from Phil Marcantonio, followed by three runs in the third inning, three runs in the sixth inning and five runs in the eighth inning.
Ramapo’s lone run came in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Robert Klawans scored on a fielding error by third baseman Evan Bresnen. Tyler Guadagno and Sean Donaghue were the only two Roadrunners to record multiple hits that day.
On Friday, the results did not get much better for Ramapo. In the bottom of the second, Kean got the scoring started with five runs off Ramapo’s Jack Martin, highlighted by a two-run home run from Brett Hilsheimer. The Cougars added four runs in the seventh inning and five runs in the eighth inning to once again put up 16 runs on Ramapo.
Martin lasted five innings for Ramapo, allowing eight hits, five earned runs, two walks and recorded three strikeouts. Matt Ivanicki followed, allowing five runs in two innings of work. Garrett Van Alstyne finished the final inning, giving up four earned runs on four hits and striking out one. The Roadrunners’ best offensive performance came from sophomore Brandon Shine, who went 4-4 at the plate.
In their doubleheader against Rowan, Ramapo lost game one by a score of 11-5. James Garthaffner started and lasted only one and two-thirds innings, allowing six earned runs on five hits while striking out four. Will Kennedy got the bulk of the work on the mound, going four innings, allowing two runs and striking out four.
Ramapo’s offense was highlighted by a three-run home run from Justin Garthaffner in the sixth inning, and a two-run single from Christian Alonso in the fifth inning. Rowan’s Anthony Schooley enjoyed a five RBI day at the plate.
In game two, the Roadrunners snapped their three-game losing streak by defeating Rowan 9-3. Nick Danbrowney recorded his fifth win of the season, going seven innings, allowing one earned run and striking out eight. Will Paoli finished the game, throwing two perfect innings and striking out four.
Ramapo’s captain Brian Baranok had the biggest day at the plate, going 2-4 with three RBIs, including a go-ahead single in the third inning, giving the Roadrunners a lead they would not let go of. Despite scoring nine runs, Ramapo did not record an extra base hit in the game, but they did tally seven singles and 12 walks.
On Tuesday afternoon, Ramapo’s offense exploded in a 17-13 victory against Cairn. Trailing 12-8 entering the eighth inning, the Roadrunners cut the deficit to two, and took the lead by scoring seven runs in the top of the ninth.
Donaghue, Guadagno, Jason Cuba and Matt Carovillano each tallied multiple RBIs in the game for Ramapo. DJ McGuinness got the start for the Roadrunners, allowing six runs in two and two-thirds innings of work. The win was registered to Ivanicki, his second of the year.
The loss for Cairn went to Nick Benson, who was on the mound at the start of Ramapo’s ninth-inning comeback, though he did not record an out in the inning.
Up next for Ramapo are a pair of NJAC doubleheaders against Rutgers-Newark University on Thursday and Friday, and New Jersey City University on Saturday. Saturday’s games will also be Senior Day.
wjackso2@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of Ramapo Athletics
