Softball Drops Conference Opener

MADISON, N.J. (March 29, 2011) - In two games, the Rangers stranded eight runners, dropping both games in their Landmark Conference opener, 3-0. On the mound for Drew, Adriana Durso (Old Tappan, N.J./Northern Valley Old Tappan) pitched all 14 innings, allowing nine hits and striking out five batters.

Game 1 - Box Score

Moravian (13-3, Landmark 2-0) took a quick lead with a two-run homer by Jenna Carmon in the top of the first inning, which would be enough offense for the remainder of the game. In the top of the second they would add one more before Drew's defense took over. On the mound, Durso did her part by silencing the Greyhound bats only relinquishing one hit for the remainder of the game.

Down 3-0 in the bottom of the second, Drew (7-8, Landmark 0-2) answered quickly getting the first two batters on base. Jillian Lusk (Scotch Plains, N.J./ Scotch Plains-Fanwood) picked up her first hit of the day with a shot through the left side to lead off the inning. Next to the plate, Nicole Spiotta (Morris Plains, N.J./Morristown) would catch the corners off guard with a well executed bunt, to put her on first and advance Lusk to second. With no outs, Durso laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners into scoring position where they would remain.

The next few innings would go back and forth with both teams only recording one hit a piece. It wasn't until the bottom of the sixth where the Rangers were able to mount their final comeback attempt. Lexie Forsell (West Windsor, N.J./West Windsor-Plainsboro) and Jeramie Barletta (Madison, N.J./Madison) hit back-to-back singles to left field but neither would get past third as the Rangers dropped the first game of the afternoon, 3-0. Forsell matched Lusk with two hits a piece in the game.


Game 2 - Box Score

In a game that saw the same end result, the beginning was quite the opposite. The first four went quickly as the Greyhounds made the only noise with two hits, stranding three runners. Alyssa Fegely silenced the Ranger offense holding them to only one hit while striking out seven.

After four, with the score still notched at zero, Spiotta lined the ball up the middle to register her second hit of the day and the only hit for the team in the second game. In their next turn at bat, Moravian finally broke the scoreless tie. Greyhound lead-off batter would single and then advance to third on two sacrifice bunts. A two-out single would plate the winning run for the Greyhounds.

Moravian added the final two in the seventh, but the damage had already been done as the Rangers dropped the second game, 3-0.

Drew travels to William Paterson University tomorrow where they are set to take on the Pioneers at 3:00 PM.