MADISON, N.J. (May 1, 2010) Junior first baseman Jillian Lusk(Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains) plated three runs on four hits as the Drew Rangers split with the Scranton Royals Saturday afternoon in Landmark Conference softball action. The Rangers topped the Royals 6-4 in the first game of the double header but fell 7-5 in the second, the closed their season at 12-25 overall, 3-9 in conference play. With the split the Royals closed out their regular season at 14-14, 5-5 in the Landmark.

Game One- The Rangers put their first two runners on in the bottom of the first inning and both advanced into scoring position when junior second baseman Kati Eggert (Denville, N.J./Morris Plains) singled through the left side. Lusk would plate two with her first hit of the afternoon later in the inning.

The Royals responded with a four-run second capped off by a two-run double from pitcher Katherine Sansousci. Designated hitter Ashley Regan would later score Sansousci with a RBI-single.

After two frames of silent ball on both sides, the Rangers finally got their offense going again in the fifth. Eggert caused trouble again, leading off the inning with a base-hit up the middle, then swiping her 15th bag of the year putting herself into scoring position. Sophomore outfielder Jackie Mannino (Little Silver, N.J./Redbank) cracked a double to split the Royals' outfielders and plate Eggert. Junior catcher Nicole Spiotta (Morris Knolls, N.J./Morristown) walked to put two runners on and both would advance on a Royals' catching miscue. Lusk came through again for the Rangers with a single to the left field gap hit hard enough to score Mannino easily. With the game on the line head coach Tammy Evans sent the trail runner in a race home to beat the throw. With a textbook hook-slide Spiotta scored the go-ahead run and eventual game-winner.

The Rangers would tack on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with an Eggert sac-fly that scored Jeramie Barletta (Madison, N.J./Madison) who doubled to lead off the frame.

After the second inning stumble, the Rangers starting pitcher, Adriana Durso (Old Tappan, N.J./Old Tappan Northern Valley) cruised. The junior struck out five Royals, walked just one, and did not allow an earned run in her eighth victory of the season.

Lusk finished the game 3-3 with three RBI's, Eggert and Barletta both went 2-3.

For the Royals second baseman Annie Zeleniak led the way with a 3-4 day. Sansousci took the loss on the mound falling to 6-5 on the year but finished 2-3 at the plate with two RBI's.

Game Two- The Rangers again struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Spiotta ripped a double down the left field line to score freshman third baseman Jennifer Mateo (Union City, N.J./Union City) and Eggert who led off the inning with back-to-back singles.

Scranton would again respond immediately in the game's next frame after freshman third baseman Kristen Williams and pitcher Samantha Boccolini each drove in a run.

Zeleniak put up another run for the Royals in the third with an RBI-single with two-outs.

The Royals broke the game open in the fifth with three runs on three hits. Kelly Zaccheo and Samantha Russo led off the game with back-to-back doubles and Sansousci who was playing leftfield tripled up the line good for two runs.

The Rangers made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh as they rallied for three runs. Eggert legged out an infield single that scored starting pitcher Alyscia Zulauf (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) who doubled to start the inning. Mannino drove in two more later in the inning with a rocket in the right-center gap but the Rangers couldn't push the last two runs across the plate.

Boccolini got the win for the Royals, her record improved to 3-5 on the season. At the plate, the Royals scattered six hits.

Zulauf took the loss for the Rangers, her record dropped to 1-5 on the year. Barletta and Mateo both finished 2-3, while Mannino and Spiotta both drove in two runs apiece.

Today's games marked the conclusion of the Rangers 2010 season, best of luck to April Jacob, Jesyka Marko, and Rebecca Skedzielewski who made their final appearances in Green and Blue.