MADISON, N.J. (March 21, 2010) – The Rangers salvaged a split this afternoon in a doubleheader against the College of Staten Island. Game one saw two superb pitching performances by Adriana Durso (East Norwich, N.Y./Oyster Bay) and Danielle Ponsiglione that ended in a 1-0 Dolphin victory. Drew got their bats rolling in game two and came from behind to get the 4-3 win.
Game One
Durso tossed a seven-inning two-hitter as the Drew University Rangers fell 1-0 to the College of Staten Island Dolphins in the first game of the twinbill. Durso gave up just one hit and fanned four batters throughout the first six innings of play.
Despite Durso's domination on the mound the Rangers struggled at the plate, stranding six runners in scoring position. They had bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth inning but winning pitcher Danielle Ponsiglione induced two fly balls to keep the score at a 0-0 stalemate.
Durso walked leadoff batter Kaitlyn Flynn to start the top of the seventh. Joanna Tepedino doubled down the left field line later in the inning for the games only RBI. Ponsiglione retired the side in the bottom half of the frame to pick up the win. Durso took the loss, her record on the mound for the Rangers now stands at 3-3. The Dolphins couldn't figure out what to do defensively to keep rookie Jennifer Mateo (Union City, Union City) off the bases as she went 2-3 with a stolen base.
Game Two
After managing only two hits in the first game, the Dolphins matched their total in the first inning of the second game to jump ahead 2-0. Jennifer Volpe singled to left field to lead off the contest and was sacrificed over to third. The three-hitter, Michelle Ferraiuolo then hit a deep enough fly ball that allowed Volpe to score on the sacrifice fly.
The Rangers would come back and capture their first lead of the day in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of doubles by Katie Eggert (Denville, N.J./Morris Knolls) and Jackie Mannino (Little Silver, N.J./Redbank). Jeramie Barletta, who reached on a leadoff walk, scored on Eggert's double while Mannino drove in Eggert on her two-bagger.
Staten Island would answer in the top of the second and re-take the lead with a pair of doubles of their own. Drew would once again answer when Nicole Spiotta (Morris Plains, N.J./Morristown) scored on a Barletta single.
In the bottom half of the fifth Mateo led off the inning with a bunt base hit and moved to second on a Dolphin error. Mannino then stepped in and grounded out to second, pushing Mateo over to third. With two outs Jillian Lusk (Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains) then delivered the game-winning single to make the score 4-3.
Adriana Durso came on to pitch the final two innings, scattering two hits en route to her second save of the week. Mateo finished the day going 4-for-6 while Barletta and Spiotta each went 2-for-5.
The Rangers will hit play host to Centenary on Wednesday, game time slated for 3:00.
