CAPE CORAL, Fla. (March 8, 2015) – After 19 innings over two heart pounding extra-inning games, the Drew University softball team fell just short in a 10-9 loss to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in 10 innings, followed by a 5-4 setback in nine innings against Bridgewater State University on Sunday afternoon at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.
 
The Rangers (0-4) have now dropped three out of their first four contests by one run. In Game 1 on Sunday, Pitt-Bradford stormed back and scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 5-5 to enforce the International Tiebreaker. With each team granted a baserunner at second to start the inning, the Rangers and Panthers each scored a run in the eighth and ninth to keep the game knotted headed into the 10^th, where Pitt-Bradford (1-0) and their home-team advantage outscored Drew 3-2 to take the game.
 
The Rangers were the ones who mounted a comeback in Game 2. Trailing 3-0 to Bridgewater St. and down to their last licks in the top of the seventh, senior left fielder Helen Mustafa launched a one-out, three-run home run over the center field fence to tie the game at 3-3. After a scoreless eighth inning, Drew was again first to strike in extras with a run in the top of the ninth, but the Bears (2-2) answered with two in the bottom of the frame for the walk-off victory.
 
Pitt-Bradford's Late Comeback Edges Drew in Marathon Game
Box Score
 
After 10 innings of back-and-forth softball, the Rangers and Panthers combined for 32 hits in a two-and-a-half hour contest. Four of Drew's 15 hits came off the bat of senior starting pitcher Laura D'Ornellas (4-for-6), who also scored three runs in support of her own start. The co-captain hurled over 160 pitches and struck out six Panthers over her 9.2 innings of work.
 
Freshman designated player Lauren Mastropierro was 3-for-6 with a run and an RBI, while seniors Kate McNamara and Mustafa added two hits, a run, and an RBI apiece. Freshman second baseman Danielle Martinez pitched in two RBIs and a 1-for-4 day at the plate.
 
The Panthers struck first in their first at-bats for the 1-0 lead, but Drew took it back in the top of the third with an RBI single by freshman center fielder Heather Ronchi and Mastropierro's RBI double. The see saw would begin to swing as Pitt-Bradford regained its advantage, 3-2, in the fourth.
 
Back-to-back sacrifice flies by Martinez and Zeigler put the Rangers ahead 4-3 in the top of the fifth, and McNamara added an insurance run by plating Mastropierro with a hard-hit single through the left side of the infield.
 
The Panthers would tie it up with their last licks in the seventh by scoring two an forcing extra innings. Sophomore first baseman Emma Agostini and Martinez recorded the RBIs in the eighth and ninth, respectively, but Pitt-Bradford would have an answer in each frame.
 
Despite RBI singles by Mustafa and Ronchi in the top of the 10^th for Drew, the Panthers strung together four hits and plated three for the walk-off win in the home half of the inning.
 
Mustafa's Blast Not Enough as Bridgewater State Outlasts Drew, 5-4, in Nine
Box Score
 
Six different Rangers recorded hits, the most important coming in the form of a three-run home run by Mustafa to tie the game in the seventh. Martinez continued a successful day driving in runs, recording another RBI after a 1-for-4 stint at the dish.
 
Senior starting pitcher Amy Benedict was effective in her first start in the circle since 2013. She allowed four hits and a walk over 4.1 innings while allowing two runs (one earned) and striking out one. Zeigler took over in the fifth and took the loss on the mound after allowing two runs (one earned) and striking out one over her 4.1 innings of work.
 
Runs in the third, fifth and sixth had the Bears taking the 3-0 lead into what they hoped was the final inning. Mustafa had other plans. Mastropierro walked to lead off the inning, and after one out, McNamara singled to set up Mustafa's heroics. The senior crushed her first home run of the season and second of her career to dead center field. The Bears would get a runner to scoring position in the bottom of the frame, but Zeigler worked out of trouble to set up the International Tiebreaker.
 
After Drew went scoreless in the eighth, Zeigler coaxed three groundouts to put up a zero in the home half of the inning.
 
Drew struck first in extras after Mastropierro sacrificed the placed runner to third, and Martinez singled her home for the 4-3 lead. A drew fielding error allowed the Bears to tie the game at 4-4, and after a bunt single and an RBI double, Bridgewater State walked off winners.
 
Drew will play its third day at the Gene Cusic Classic in Cape Coral against Kenyon College at 9:00 a.m. and Olivet College at 11 a.m.