MADISON, N.J. (April 10, 2015) – The Drew University softball swept a home doubleheader against New York University with 3-2 and 5-1 wins in non-conference action on Friday evening.
 
Game 2 was called due to darkness with the Rangers (5-17) batting with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The two losses drop the Violets' record to 5-19.
 
Sophomore right fielder Phylicia Pellot sparked the Rangers from the leadoff spot in the first game, going 3-for-3 with two important runs scored. Senior starting pitcher Laura D'Ornellas earned the win on the mound, scattering five hits across seven innings and allowing two runs, while striking out four and walking one. Drew's senior hurler was locked in a pitching battle with NYU's starter, who allowed just six hits, but the Rangers made them count.
 
The first of those clutch hits came in the bottom of the third inning when Drew trailed the Violets 1-0. Pellot started a two-out rally with a single, and freshmen Brooke Adams followed suit as both advanced after a fielding error on the base hit. With runners on second and third, freshman center fielder Heather Ronchi gave Drew the 2-1 lead with a two-run single to center field.
 
The Rangers added an important insurance run in the fifth, again spurned by Pellot. After singling with one out in the frame, Pellot came around to score on an RBI single by senior third baseman Kate McNamara to put Drew ahead 3-1.
 
That run proved crucial as NYU cut the lead in half in the top of the sixth. D'Ornellas limited the damage by getting a double play in the sixth and working a perfect seventh to pick up her second win on the mound in 2015.
 
In the nightcap, Ronchi, D'Ornellas and sophomore shortstop Meghan McGuire paced Drew's 10-hit attack with two apiece, and Adams drove in two runs to lead the Rangers to the doubleheader sweep.
 
Senior starting pitcher Amy Benedict earned the win on the mound after throwing six innings of one-run softball, allowing eight hits and a walk. For the second straight game on Friday, NYU took the early lead with a run in the first, but Drew was quicker to respond in Game 2. The Rangers tied the game on a fielding error in the bottom of the first.
 
As Benedict shut down the Violets bats, Adams handed Drew the 3-1 lead with a hard-hit, two-run single to right field to chase home McGuire and freshman Lauren Mastropierro.
 
Drew tacked on two more in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by senior catcher Rebecca Hutsebaut and an RBI fielders choice by D'Ornellas. The four-run lead was plenty for Benedict, who shut the door down the stretch to officially complete the sweep.
 
The Rangers have a quick turnaround as Landmark Conference play resumes on Saturday, April 11 with a home doubleheader against The Catholic University of America beginning at 1:00 p.m. Drew will celebrate the careers of five players on Senior Day, with festivities taking place in between the games on Saturday.