JERSEY CITY, NJ…Sophomore left-hander Jamie Anzaldi (Clifton, NJ/Clifton) limited New Jersey City University to three hits and fanned 13 in a complete-game effort to improve her record to 13-2 as Ramapo College won game one of a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader, 3-0, at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. In the nightcap, the Roadrunners downed NJCU, 3-1, behind the pitching of sophomore right-hander Valerie Malfi (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest).
Ramapo increased their record to 18-6 (5-3 NJAC) with the sweep, while the Gothic Knights fall to 6-10 (2-6 NJAC). It was NJCU’s first home game since Wednesday, March 27.
In the opener, Anzaldi tossed seven full innings and 115 pitches, fanning 13 and walking three to earn the win.
Sophomore second baseman Bianca Quimpo (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) led off the bottom of the first with a first-pitch, bunt single to third. Anzaldi maintained a one-hitter until the sixth inning, when freshman third baseman Kristi Zarr (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert East) and sophomore shortstop Anabel Rodriguez (Belleville, NJ/Belleville) had back-to-back singles with two outs. But the Knights left the pair stranded in scoring position in NJCU’s best chance to generate runs.
Ramapo opened a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. Senior first baseman Kelli Kernan (San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo) doubled down the left field line, then scored as Anzaldi aided her own cause with an opposite field RBI single down the left field line. Kernan and Anzaldi were each 2-for-3 at the plate in the opener. Senior designated player Kelly-Ann DiGiulio (Mahwah, NJ/Mahwah) added a 2-for-3 showing as Ramapo collected 11 hits.
The Roadrunners added two insurance runs for the 3-0 edge in the seventh. With two out, the inning should have been over, if not for an error. And freshman second baseman Alicia Cruz (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) capitalized, drilling a two-run single to centerfield.
Sophomore right-hander Tara DeFilippo (Bayonne, NJ/Holy Family Academy) pitched a complete-game, allowing three runs (one earned), and 11 hits, with two strikeouts and no walks on 89 pitches to fall to 5-7 on the season.
In the nightcap, Malfi fired 87 pitches in a complete-game bid, allowing one run (none earned), and six hits, and struck out eight NJCU batters, to raise her ledger to 3-4. Amazingly, 67 of her 87 pitches were strikes.
The lone blemish for Ramapo’s pitching was in the top of the fifth as NJCU, the visiting team in game two, grabbed a 1-0 lead. With two out, Quimpo singled to left on a 1-2 pitch, followed by a single up the middle by sophomore center fielder Meagan Tullock (Jersey City, NJ/St. Dominic's Academy). Zarr struck out, but reached first base on a passed ball. A wild pitch moved everyone up, and scored Quimpo for the game’s first run. But with two runners in scoring position, Rodriguez grounded to first.
Ramapo scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 2-1 advantage. With two out junior shortstop Laura Germano (Park Ridge, NJ/Park Ridge) reached on a throwing error by Zarr, advanced to second, and then moved to third on a passed ball. Kernan singled to left to tie the game.
Kernan moved to second on a wild pitch, before scoring the eventual game-winning run on a RBI single to right center by sophomore third baseman Michelle Micklos (Tuxedo, NY/Tuxedo). Micklos was 2-for-3 at the plate in game two. Ramapo scored a third run on a wild pitch in the sixth.
Quimpo was 2-for-4 in the nightcap for the Knights, while Zarr hit 2-for-3. Freshman right-hander Barbara Rodriguez (Harrison, NJ/Harrison) had a three-hit shutout going into the fifth only to take the loss to fall to 1-3. B-Rod allowed three runs (one earned), six hits, and walked six with no strikeouts on a complete-game effort. She hurled 90 pitches.
NJCU will be right back in action on Wednesday, April 10 as they visit Centenary College in Hackettstown for a non-conference doubleheader.
RAMAPO 3, NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY 0 (Game 1)
(at Jersey City, NJ)
Ramapo 000 100 2 3|11|0
NJCU 000 000 0 0|3|3
R-Jamie Anzaldi; N-Tara DeFilippo. WP-Anzaldi (13-2). LP-DeFilippo (5-7).
RAMAPO 3, NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY 1 (Game 2)
(at Jersey City, NJ)
NJCU 000 010 0 1|6|1
Ramapo 000 021 x 3|6|0
N-Barbara Rodriguez; R-Valerie Malfi. WP-Malfi (3-4). LP-Rodriguez (1-3).
-www.njcu.edu/goknights-
