Montclair, NJ: The #9/14 Ramapo College baseball team came back to defeat rival Montclair State University today, 10-8 in ten innings, at Yogi Berra Stadium. The Roadrunners improve to 19-5-1 overall, 6-3-1 in the NJAC while the Redhawks fall to 11-11-1 overall and 3-6-1 in the conference.
In the first inning, Ramapo put five runs on the board before MSU scored one run in the second. With two outs in the top of the first inning, rookie Ryan Rinsky ripped a double to left field plating two runs to take a 2-0 lead. Sophomore Kevin Kelly drove home Rinksy before junior Brandon Berger hit a double to left field allowing sophomore Chris Werr and Kelly to come around and score for a 5-0 lead.
MSU got one back in the second before they would take a 6-5 lead after the bottom of the third inning as they scored five more runs. In the fourth, the Redhawks scored one more run to take a 7-5 lead on a bases loaded walk.
Ramapo scored one run in the sixth, to come within one, 6-7, when senior Dave Jacob grounded to first base as senior Anthony Vinci scored on the play. Vinci singled to right field to lead off the inning. The Roadrunners would tie the game in the eighth inning, 7-7. Junior John Capuano scored an unearned run on an infield error by the Redhawks; Capuano reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the inning.
Neither team could score in the ninth inning before Ramapo came back to score three runs on three hits in the top of the tenth inning. With one out, rookie Joe Venturino poked a single to left field before Capuano reach on an infield error. Jacob then laced a single to center field as Venturino came home to break the tie and go up, 8-7. Capuano went to third on the hit before senior Christian Spurr hit a sacrifice fly to left field allowing Capuano to score for the eventual game winning run, 9-7. Rinskey drove home Jacob from second base with a hard hit single to center field for the Roadrunners third run of the inning for the 10-7 lead.
In the bottom of the tenth, the Redhawks got one run back as Lou Martini singled home Matt Moreno to come within two, 10-8. With runner's on first and second and two outs, Ramapo relief pitcher Kyle Doerr struck out the final batter of the game for the victory.
The Roadrunners pounded out 17 hits in the game to MSU's 11. Rinsky led the team going 4-5 with one run scored and three RBI while Venturino was 3-5 with one run scored. Berger also collected three hits on four at bats with two RBI while Werr and Jacob each recorded two hits.
Sophomore Walker Larson started the game for the Roadrunners. Larson worked the first 2.2 innings, surrendering six runs on eight hits. Pasquale LaBracio worked one inning in relief while Kyle Doerr improved to 2-0 as he worked the final 6.1 innings. He struck out two and walked three while scattered three hits.
The Roadrunners return to action tomorrow afternoon when they travel to non-conference rival Drew University at 4:30pm.