Softball and Baseball Both Lose to Stevens

Photo courtesy of Ramapo Athletics

The Ramapo and Stevens Institute of Technology softball teams split a double-header in a non-conference away game. The Roadrunners won the first game 9-1, but were just edged out in the second 7-6. 

In the first game, Harper Patsko got things started with a grand slam. Sisi Machinski put another on the board with an RBI single, while Jackie Howarth drove in two with a single. In the fourth, Nicole Mahoney drilled a home run with one on. Grace Brennan ripped one of her own not long after, also with one runner on base.

“We were eager to get back on the field after so many rainouts,” said pitcher Erin Fitzsimmons. “The strong hitting and solid defense gave me the confidence I needed to do my part on the mound for the team. It was a great win over Stevens, an overall strong opponent.”

Fitzsimmons improved to 4-2 overall. She earned the win for the game, pitching a two-hitter and letting up just one one run. 

The team recorded 13 runs in five innings of play.

In the second match-up, the Ducks rallied back, taking the lead in the first with a home run to start off the game. An error on Ramapo allowed them to score another. Although Shannon Cox and Patsko each drove in a run, along with Christina Brizek’s RBI double and a bases loaded walk, Stevens smacked a two-run homer in the sixth to secure their 7-6 win.

The Roadrunners are now 10-6 overall, while Stevens’ record stands at 15-8.

Ramapo’s baseball team also suffered a loss to Stevens University. The 6-5 defeat puts the team at 7-10 while the Ducks improve to 11-11-1.

Although Ramapo took the lead 2-0 in two innings with an RBI groundout by Joe Maugeri and a single RBI from Rob DeAngelis, Stevens answered back with five of their own by the fifth. In the sixth, DeAngelis laced a two-run RBI double to put the Roadrunners down by just one, however the Ducks quickly added one to put two runs between them. Ramapo managed to tack on one more run in the ninth with the hope of making a comeback, but Stevens got the outs and the win. 

DeAngelis went 3-5 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored while Bobby Shannon went 2-3. Brian Chinni recorded the loss for Roadrunners, putting him at 0-1 for the season.  

“It was definitely a tough loss that hurt,” said junior Austin Unglaub. “But the reason baseball is so great is because you can come back tomorrow and play again.”

“You don’t have to wait a week to play another game. We are going to come out stronger tomorrow and take one game at a time.”

The baseball team will host NJAC rival Kean University at 3:30pm tomorrow, while Ramapo softball will travel to Rutgers-Camden for another double-header on Saturday, April 8, against their NJAC rival.

khueston@ramapo.edu