Baseball Splits with Ramapo in Season Opener

Patchogue, NY| The St. Joseph's College baseball team earned a non-conference split with Ramapo College at Gregg Alfano Field on Sunday afternoon. The Golden Eagles edged the Roadrunners 2-1 in game one before suffering a 10-8 extra-inning loss in the nightcap.

Both teams start the season at 1-1.

SJCLI 2, Ramapo 1

The Golden Eagles scored all the runs they would need in the bottom of the first. Senior Tyler Sanderson doubled in senior Anthony Raucci who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning. A passed ball moved Sanderson up 90 feet allowing him to score on an infield ground out by senior Jesse Nakashian.

The Roadrunners lone run came in the top of the fifth when Kyle Buser doubled in Bryan Franko before getting thrown out at third trying to advance on the throw to the plate.

Senior starter Tim Woodford pitched around a leadoff double in the top of the sixth before giving way to Daniel Deckert who retired Ramapo in order to pick up the save.

Woodford earned the win allowing just one run on four hits with nine strikeouts in six innings. Ramapo's Matt Stewart was tagged with the loss allowing two runs on five hits with three strikeouts in 4.1 innings.

SJCLI 8, Ramapo 10 (9 innings)

After falling behind 8-1 through the first three innings of play, the Golden Eagles began chipping away courtesy of a two-run home run to right off the bat of sophomore Charles Rainone.

A five-run bottom of the fifth highlighted by a three-RBI double from Rainone brought St. Joseph's even with the Roadrunners at 8-8.

A scoreless sixth and seventh pushed the game to extras where both teams went down quietly in the eighth.

Justin Grippo worked a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. A Franko base hit to left put runners on the corners where back-to-back groundballs in the infield produced a pair runs giving the Roadrunners a 10-8 lead.

St. Joseph's had two runners on with one out in the top of the ninth, but Ramapo's Vincent Timpanelli came out from behind the plate striking out the next two Golden Eagles to end the threat and pick up the save.

Rainone led SJC at the plate going 3-for-3 with five RBI and a run scored. Sanderson pitched in with three hits, an RBI and two runs scored.

Ramapo's Sean Kelemen earned the win after 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.

The Golden Eagles return to action on Tuesday, March 10 when they travel to William Paterson. Game time is slated for 3:30 pm.