NEWARK, NJ – Ramapo College fended off a pair of upset bids by Rutgers-Newark to take a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader on Alumni Field, 3-2 and 3-1.

BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY
Ramapo 3, Rutgers-Newark 2
Ramapo 3, Rutgers-Newark 1

The Roadrunners (24-6, NJAC 10-4) got a game-winning single in the top of the sixth by junior rightfielder Danielle Rothenberger and four-hit pitching from senior Lyndsay Buehler in the nightcap to deny the Scarlet Raiders (7-23, NJAC 2-12).

IN THE OPENER, Raider sophomore first baseman Monica Bagan hammered a solo home run to centerfield to lead off the fourth inning and knot the score at 2-2.

But the Roadrunner third baseman Krystal Kmiechick was hit by freshman lefthander Brianna Alicchio to lead off the sixth inning and scored on Rothenberger's two-out single through the left side of the infield.

Alicchio (0-6) yielded nine hits while striking out four and walking just one while Ramapo senior Deanna Giordano improved to 9-4 by scattering 10 hits while striking out six and walking no one.

Sophomore leftfielder Ashley Schirripa paced Ramapo by going three for four with two doubles – including an RBI double in the third inning which staked the Roadrunners to a 2-0 lead.

Raider sophomore third baseman Monica Liotto, who went three for four, doubled home a run in the third to trim the Ramapo lead to a run.

IN THE NIGHTCAP, Buehler improved to 11-2 by striking out 11 while yielding just four hits and two walks to better Raider sophomore Angela Riscinti who scattered eight hits while striking out five and walking three.

Freshman designated player Caitlin Smith singled home a run in the third before Schirripa sparked the decisive two-run fourth for Ramapo. Schirripa doubled home the winning run before scoring an insurance run on a single through the middle of the infield by freshman pinch hitter Harley Masiello.

Senior centerfielder Jessica Zelaya tripled to open the sixth inning and scored on a foul fly off the bat of Liotto.

Zelaya also singled to lead off the fourth ahead of a double by Liotto to give Rutgers-Newark a golden opportunity in the fourth. But after striking out the next batter and yielding a walk to load the bases, Buehler escaped the jam with a strikeout and an infield grounder.

Centerfielder Tiffany Fischer was the only Roadrunner with two hits in the game while Zelaya was the only Raider with two hits.

Rutgers-Newark faces City Tech in a non-conference doubleheader on Alumni Field on Monday at 4:30 p.m. before hosting Rutgers-Camden in a 3 o'clock NJAC twinbill on Tuesday.  The Raiders will play four of five doubles at home during the final week of the regular season.