HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (April 27, 2015) – Despite outhitting its opponent in both games of a non-conference doubleheader on Monday afternoon, the Drew University softball team was edged in both ends of a twin bill at Centenary (N.J.) College, 7-5 and 5-4.
 
The Rangers (9-27) mustered up 13 hits in each game on Monday, but the Cyclones (19-19) made their hits count to nudge ahead on their home turf. Freshman center fielder Heather Ronchi led the Rangers at the plate, batting 3-for-4 in each contest and raising her season average to .359. The Drew rookie scored three runs on Monday and notched one RBI in the first game.
 
Sophomore right fielder Phylicia Pellot and freshman third baseman Lauren Mastropierro each had a couple of multi-hit games on Monday, while senior first baseman Laura D'Ornellas drove in a total of three runs.
 
Early Lead Doesn't Stick for Drew in Game 1
RBIs from Ronchi, senior catcher Kate McNamara and D'Ornellas gave Drew a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first in support of sophomore starting pitcher Emma Agostini. In the first, Ronchi and D'Ornellas smacked two of Drew's five doubles in the game.
 
Centenary got one back in the home half of the first, and the lead held until the bottom of the third inning when the Cyclones took advantage of a couple of Drew defensive miscues to score four unearned runs and take a 5-3 lead. Centenary would add a pair of important insurance runs in the fifth on a two-run home run to lead 7-3.
 
The homer proved vital as Drew scored two in the sixth after hits by freshman second baseman Danielle Martinez, Mastropierro, Pellot and freshman left fielder Brooke Adams. A two-out rally that produced the two runs fell short and Centenary escaped the seventh inning with the lead and the victory.
 
Centenary Hold Slim Lead Throughout for Game 2 Triumph
For the second straight game, the Rangers jumped on the Cyclones in the first inning, this time scoring two on RBIs from seniors McNamara and D'Ornellas. Similar to Game 1, Centenary had an answer in the home half and took a 3-2 lead on one swing, a three-run home run to center field.
 
The Cyclones wouldn't trail again, but held just a thin lead throughout the seven inning contest as Drew was constantly knocking on the door. Down 4-2 in the fourth, Adams connected on a two-out RBI to cut the deficit to 4-3. Again showing signs of déjà vu, the Cyclones produced another important insurance run in the sixth inning. Without it, the Rangers would have tied the game in the seventh on D'Ornellas' sacrifice fly. However, the three-hit, seventh inning rally fell just one run short as Centenary completed the non-conference sweep.
 
The Rangers close out the 2015 season with the home field finale on Tuesday, April 28 against Yeshiva University beginning at 4:00 p.m. in Madison.