MADISON, N.J. (April 19, 2010)- Drew's Adriana Durso (Old Tappan, N.J./Old Tappan Northern Valley) worked her way to two victories over the Stevens Institute of Technology Monday afternoon. Behind their junior ace, the Rangers pounded out 13 hits in the 8-0 game one victory and sophomore Jackie Mannino (Little Silver, N.J./Redbank) knocked in four runs in the 7-6 late-inning nightcap.
Game One
Junior second baseman Kati Eggert (Denville, N.J./Morris Knolls) was a perfect 3-3 at the plate in the shortened first game. Eggert knocked in the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI-double in the left field gap. Eggert would contribute another run to the Rangers' efforts in the bottom of the fourth.
Rookie shortstop Jeramie Barletta (Madison, N.J./Madison) cracked the first homerun of her collegiate career in the bottom of the second inning. Barletta drove a 2-2 pitch deep over the centerfield wall that added two runs to the Rangers lead.
Mannino finished the game 1-2 with a pair of RBI's. Junior first baseman Jillian Lusk (Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains) also contributed a pair of hits going 2-3 at the dish.
On the hill, Durso held the Ducks to just one hit and fanned six in five innings.
Game Two
The Ducks came out swinging and lit up the scoreboard early in the second game, plating a runner in the top of the first inning. Rookie catcher Claire Strom rocked a two-out double with a runner in scoring position for her team-leading 16th RBI.
The Rangers came back in the bottom of the third and put up a three-spot in one swing from Mannino. It was the lefty's second long ball of the season that cleared the right-centerfield wall with plenty of room to spare.
The Ducks and Rangers traded runs in the fourth, but Drew came out of the inning still up by two. The lead didn't make it past the fifth when the Ducks rallied for four runs. Senior shortstop Naomi Sacks ripped a bases-loaded single to plate one, and sophomore righty Alyscia Zulauf (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) walked the next Duck with the bases still juiced. Later in the inning Junior Denise Wagner singled with two-outs to bring in two more as the Ducks took a 6-4 lead.
Hungry for their first home sweep of the season, the Rangers cut the lead the one with clutch double from Lusk. Lusk's double was deep enough to score Mannino who led off the frame with a single, and in a smart move from head coach Tammy Evans, was sacrificed to second by all-Landmark catcher Nicole Spiotta (Morris Plains, N.J./Morristown.)
Evans made another gamble in the sixth, putting Durso in hoping for throw off the Ducks' hitters. The junior came through and struck out three batters in the frame for the Rangers who needed a quiet inning.
Senior April Jacob (North Bergen, N.J./High Tech) led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and her experience showed in the game's next play. Barletta laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance Jacob and the senior burned past second base kicking up dust on her way to third which was left wide open by the Ducks. Jacob would score the game tying run a few pitches later on a Ducks' passed ball. Rookie third baseman Jennifer Mateo (Union City, N.J./Union City) reached base and caused havoc swiping her 10th base of the season. Eggert singled advancing Mateo to third and Mannino came through with her fourth RBI of the day, a fielder's choice to the left side, the eventual game winner.
Durso struck out four batters in two innings for the win and improved her season mark to 6-12. Zulauf went five full innings, struck out four and walked just two, taking the no-decision. Mateo went 2-3, the speedster scored two runs stole two bases. Eggert and Mannino both finished 2-4.
The Rangers continue action this Wednesday April 21st at 3:30pm against the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Madison.
