Cardinals Take Two From Rangers

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 9, 2011) – Drew (11-14, 2-4 Landmark) couldn't gain ground on fourth place Catholic (14-9, 4-2) this afternoon after 5-4 and 6-2 losses in the nation's capital this afternoon. Freshman Brooke Gagliano (Freehold Twp., N.J./Freehold Twp.) had a pair of doubles and drove in four runs on the afternoon.

Game 1 – Box Score
A three-run third inning by Catholic gave the Cardinals an early 4-0 lead behind their ace Kerri Apicella who struck out nine batters in seven innings of work. The Cardinal hitters worked out four-consecutive walks extending the home team lead to 2-0.  With one out,  Kristen Trancynger stepped in and singled to center plating two more runs.

The Rangers did not go down quietly and mounted a comeback in the top of the fifth inning. Jillian Lusk (Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood) led off the frame with her first of two hits on the day. The pitcher, Adriana Durso (Old Tappan, N.J./No. Valley Old Tappan), walked and was moved to second when Jen Mateo (Union City, N.J./Union City) reached on an error. Gagliano stepped in with bases loaded and drove all three runners in with a double to left field.

Catholic respond in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single from Erin McMakin to make the score 5-3. The Rangers pushed one more run across in the top of the seventh on another two-out, RBI double by Gagliano pulling the Rangers within a run. The rally was short-lived and Apicella retired the final batter to seal the 5-4 victory.

Game 2- Box Score
The Rangers had two leads in the game thanks to runs in the top of the second and third innings. The Rangers got their first three runners aboard but had their rally halted by 1-2-3 double play by the Catholic defense in the top of the second. Drew managed to get one runner across when Lusk scored on a wild pitch.

The Cardinals tied the game up at one in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI double by Meagan Daubman. The Rangers then captured their second lead of the afternoon in their next turn at the plate. The speedy Mateo walked and then stole her eighth base of the spring to put herself in scoring position. Lexie Forsell (West Windsor, N.J./West Windsor –Plainsboro) came through with one out and delivered an RBI single to left, giving the Rangers a 2-1 advantage.

As they did in the previous inning, the Cardinals countered in the bottom of the third with three runs and took first lead of the game. Four hits, including an RBI double by McMakin gave Catholic more than they needed to close out the ball game. McMakin, the game two starting pitcher for the Cardinals, went all seven innings and surrendered only one hit in the final four innings.

The Rangers will look to rebound on Tuesday afternoon when they travel down the street to take on rival Fairleigh Dickinson at 3:00.