CAPE CORAL, Fla. (March 9, 2015) – The Drew University softball team fell victim to consecutive dominant pitching performances on Day 3 at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic, dropping 6-2 and 6-1 decisions to Kenyon College and Olivet College, respectively, on Monday morning.
 
In the second game, the Rangers (0-6) reached base for the first time in the bottom of the sixth, and picked up its only two hits and run of the game in the seventh as Olivet's Ashlynn Grubb lost a no-hitter with no outs in that frame. Grubb retired the first 15 Rangers she faced before sophomore Emma Agostini drew a walk to lead off the sixth. The Comets improved to 5-3 with the win.
 
Despite striking first in Game 1 opposite Kenyon (8-3), Drew would be outhit and outscored down the stretch. RBI singles by freshman third baseman Lauren Mastropierro and senior catcher Kate McNamara gave the Rangers an early 2-0 lead in the home half of the first, but the Ladies plated runs in the third through sith innings, aided by two Drew errors.
 
McNamara and freshman center fielder Heather Ronchi each extended hit streaks to five straight games on Monday.
 
Kenyon Erases Early Drew Lead On Way to 6-2 Victory
Box Score
 
The Rangers jumped ahead early in their first trip to the plate. Ronchi began the two-out rally with a double to the right-centerfield gap. She was plated on the next at-bat when Mastropierro singled up the middle and wisely advanced to second on the throw home, placing her in scoring position for McNamara. The senior catcher delivered a two-out RBI single to put Drew ahead 2-0.
 
Junior starting pitcher Kristin Zeigler held the Ladies scoreless through two despite Kenyon getting runners to scoring position in each frame. Kenyon broke through against Zeigler with a sacrifice fly in the third to cut the Rangers' lead in half. The junior hurler was tagged with the loss after back-to-back base hits to start the inning came around to score. Senior Amy Benedict took the ball with one out in the inning, allowing the inherited runners to score with a two-run single before getting two groundouts to end the inning with Kenyon leading 3-2.
 
Kenyon scored another in the fifth after a Rangers' fielding error in the outfield allowed a runner to score from first. More insurance came in the sixth when Kenyon followed a hit-by-pitch, a walk, and an error with a bases-loaded double to score two. Benedict did well to escape further trouble by coaxing three straight popups to Drew shortstop Meghan McGuire.
 
Near No-Hitter Helps Olivet Hand Rangers Sixth Straight Setback
Box Score
 
Agostini, starting the second game for Drew in the circle, pitched four straight scoreless innings to start the contest, but Olivet's starter kept pace by retiring 15 straight Rangers out of the gate. The Comets finally got to Agostini in the fifth with a sacrifice fly, followed by a two-run home run later in the inning.
 
Agostini broke up the perfect game attempt by drawing a walk to lead off the home half of the sixth, but Grubb would retire the next three batters to keep the no-hitter alive into the final inning.
 
After Benedict led off the seventh by reaching on an error, Ronchi broke up the no-no bid by tagging a single to right-center and advanced the runner to third. Then with one out, McNamara got Drew on the board with a looping RBI single over the third baseman's head.