MADISON, NJ (March 24, 2010)- The Centenary College Cyclones completed a two game sweep of the Drew Rangers to improve their record to 7-5 on the season. The Rangers were outhit in the first game 12-4, and 10-6 in the second as their record fell to 6-10.
Game One- Rookie catcher Cara Montferrat led worked a two-out walk and would score off a double to right field by sophomore shortstop Caitlin Veverka in the bottom of the first for Centenary. The Rangers answered in the bottom half of the frame when junior second baseman Kati Eggert (Denville, N.J./Morris Knolls) ripped an RBI single to score Jen Mateo (Union City, N.J./Union City.)
The Cyclones would score again in the top of the second with a bases loaded single from junior right fielder Natalie Fleming. Montferrat followed with an RBI fielder's choice that scored Angleica Ruiz.
Starting pitcher Kristin Durborow kept the Ranger bats silent for the next two innings until sophomore centerfielder Jackie Mannino cracked her first home run of the season on the first pitch of her at bat over the left field wall to cut the Cyclone lead to one, 3-2. The Rangers scored again the bottom half of the fifth to tie the game at 3-3 before the Cylcone offense exploded with four runs in the top of the sixth.
Montferrat doubled to left to score Fleming who ripped a one-out single. Senior Lorena Papa connected on a two-out double to score two more runs for the Cyclones. Rookie second baseman Brianne McManus followed with an RBI single up the right field line to score Papa. Senior Alexandra Aarons (East Norwich, N.Y./Oyster Bay) who came relief of starter Adriana Durso (Old Tappan, N.J./Old Tappan) struck out the next batter to end the bleeding for the Rangers.
Montferrat struck again for the Cyclones in the top of the seventh as she hammered a three run homer over the bleachers in centerfield. Montferrat finished the day 2-4 with five RBIs. Fleming finished 4-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Sarah Olsen who came in relief of Durborow in the top of the fifth, picked up her third win of the season.
For the Rangers Mateo, Mannino, and Eggert each had RBIs. Durso would get the loss, her record fell to 3-4 on the year.
Game Two- The outcome in the second game was similar to the first. The Rangers were again outhit with Olsen dominating on the mound. Starting pitcher senior April Jacob (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) held the Cyclones off until the third inning when Veverka singled in Fleming who doubled to reach base. Papa would follow with a double but a perfect relay from Mannino in center kept her at third. Jacob would retire the next batter to keep the damage at just one run off three Cyclones hits.
The Cyclone bats wouldn't be silent for long, they busted they game open in the top of the fourth. The Cyclones loaded the bases with a Ranger error, a fielder's choice and a single. Fleming connected on a two RBI single to give the Cyclones a 3-0 lead. Centenary would take advantage of two Ranger errors to score two more runs in the frame.
The Rangers turned a textbook 6-4-3 double play in the fifth with Durso back on the mound to hold the Cyclones off. The Cyclones went down 1-2-3 in the sixth, again shut down by Durso and the Ranger defense. They would finally get their bats going in the top of the sixth for two runs to complete the 7-0 victory.
Olsen would get her second victory of the game for the Cyclones, improving her record to 4-3. Veverka finished 3-4 with two RBI and Fleming went 2-4 with two for the Cyclones who's record improved to 7-5.
Jacob took the loss for the Rangers, her record falling to 1-5 on the year. The Rangers scattered six hits and were shut out for the just the fourth time this season.
The Rangers take on the Moravian College Greyhounds this Saturday, March 27th in Landmark Conference action at 1:00pm in Bethlehem, Pa.
