Softball Takes Two From Juniata

MADISON, N.J. (April 2, 2011) - Drew picked up their first conference win of the season with a two-game rout of Juniata this afternoon. After a convincing 11-2 victory in game one, the Rangers completed the sweep, edging the Eagles 3-2 in the final game.  Lexie Forsell (West Windsor, N.J./ West Windsor-Plainsboro) led the Rangers offensively going four-for-six at the plate, collecting three RBIs and recording her first career home run. 

Game 1 - Box Score
Drew (9-10, 2-2 Landmark) played solid on both sides of the ball, recording 12 hits and no errors on the defensive side.Their go-to on the mound,  Adriana Durso(Old Tappan, N.J./Northern Valley Old Tappen) struck out two allowing only six hits and two runs.

The Rangers came out of the dugout swinging, jumping on the scoreboard in their very first at bat. After a one-two-three top of the first, Drew would bat around in the bottom of the inning. Forsell got the Rangers rolling, sailing a ball over the left fielder's head for her first hit of the day. On the next pitch Jeramie Barletta (Madison, N.J./Madison) singled through the left side, putting runners on first and third. After a steal and an RBI from Brooke Nwosu (Freehold Twp., N.J./Frehold Twp.), Forsell crossed the plate for the first run of the game. With two outs, the Ranger's offense exploded putting the next four batters on base. Jillian Lusk (Scotch Plains, N.J./ Scotch Plains-Fanwood) dropped one between the short stop and left fielder to score Barletta.  Nicole Spiotta (Morris Plains, N.J./Mooristown) then stepped in and advanced Lusk with a line drive up the middle. A batter later, Jackie Mannino (Little Silver, N.J./Red Bank Regional) doubled to right center, plating two more to go up by four in the bottom of the first.

In the next two innings, Drew collected two runs a piece while Durso allowied only one hit by the Eagles. Lusk collected two of her game-high three RBIs with a double in the second inning. In the next inning, Forsell cracked her third-double of the game to bring in two more, putting the Rangers up by eight.

Juniata's (2-18, Landmark 0-4) only threat came in the fourth, scoring two to break up Durso's shutout. Drew took the game in the fifth, courtesy of a passed ball and a two-run single to right center by Spiotta.

Game 2 - Box Score
The first three innings were all that mattered in game two, with the Rangers scoring one in each to collect their second win of the day, 3-2. After out hitting Juniata 12-6 in the first game, the Eagles had the edge in game two but it didn't prove to be enough.

Yet again, Forsell would be the one to start the Rangers offense in the bottom of the first. Stepping to the plate with one out, Forsell knocked the ball clear over the center field fence for her first career home run and the first run of the game.  Juniata notched the game at one in their next at bat, but Drew quickly responded scoring off a wild pitch in the bottom of the second.

The Eagles came knocking one final time, tying the game in the top of the third. After a Juniata error, Forsell represented the go-ahead run in the bottom of the third. With a combination of a sacrifice bunt by Barletta and a RBI single up the middle by Nwosu, the Rangers took the lead for good.

Drew travels to Hoboken, N.J. this Monday to take on Stevens at 3:00 p.m.