Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 12, 2013) – The Drew University softball team picked up its first two wins of the season thanks to a pair of late rallies against The University of Pittsburgh-Bradford (0-3) and Olivet College (5-5). The Rangers scored in their final turns at the plate to defeat Pitt-Bradford, 2-0 and Olivet, 5-2.

Against Pitt-Bradford, sophomore pitcher, Laura D'Ornellas (Lanoka Harbor, N.J./Lacey Twp.) threw a complete game, shutout and struck out three Panther batters. She improves her record to 1-1 on the season and lowers her ERA to 0.54.

After leaving the bases loaded in the inning before, the Rangers finally broke the scoreless tie in the top of the seventh inning. Back-to-back singles with one out by Antoinette Tovar (South El Monte, Calif./South Elmonte) and D'Ornellas put runners on first and second. Junior Lexie Forsell (West Windsor, N.J./West Windsor-Plainsboro) walked to load the bases for the second-straight inning. The Rangers broke the tie when Tovar came across on a wild pitch. Sophomore Rebecca Hutsebaut (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Twp.) ripped a double down the left field line that scored D'Ornellas for the second run of the game.

D'Ornellas sat the Panthers down in order in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn her first victory of the year.

In the second half of the doubleheader the Rangers bounced back from a 2-0 deficit for the second win of the day. Drew tied the game up at two in the bottom of the third inning taking advantage of a throwing error and an RBI double by Forsell that scored D'Ornellas.

In the bottom of the sixth inning the Rangers captured their first lead of the game after Comet pitcher, Jessica Duell walked in two runs. Tovar also collected her third hit of the day ripping to give the Rangers a 5-3 lead.

Sophomore Amy Benedict (Howell, N.J./Freehold Twp.) went the distance for Drew, pitching seven innings and striking out four in her first win of the season.

The Rangers will have another double dip tomorrow when they take on Medaille College and New Jersey City University beginning at 9:00 a.m.