MADISON, N.J. - Sophomore
Sophie Sirota drilled a game-winning single to rightfield in the bottom of the seventh, and the Drew University softball team rallied for a doubleheader split with a 4-3 walk-off victory over Rutgers-Newark Thursday afternoon at the Drew University Softball Complex. The Scarlet Raiders captured the opener 11-3 in five innings.
Game 1 Highlights
• Rutgers-Newark led 4-0 early on, but the Rangers cut the deficit in half with a pair of unearned runs in the fourth. But the Raiders broke the game open with a seven-run seventh to make it 11-2.
• The Rangers tacked on a run in the bottom of the fifth, when sophomore Sophie Verie doubled and scored on a single from
Raquel Cabrera.
• Senior
Cara O'Leary (3-3) started in the circle for Drew and tied a career-high with five strikeouts over four innings pitched while allowing four runs on five hits.
Game 2 Highlights
• The Rangers found themselves down 2-0 heading into the fifth inning of the nightcap before embarking on their rally. Freshman
Paxtan Perry singled, and pinch-runner
Jenna Du Plooy scored on a two-out single from sophomore
Stephanie Burns.
• After Newark plated another run in the top of the sixth, Drew answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the frame. Freshman
MaKayla Sosa led off with a single, was bunted to third by senior
Katie Grodski, and was driven home on a groundout by Perry.
• Burns pitched the final six innings in relief and worked out of a jam in the top of the seventh, striking out a batter to leave the bases loaded.
• In the bottom of the inning, freshman
Renata Primmer led off with a walk before Burns smashed a double deep into the leftfield corner. Primmer went on to score on a wild pitch, which allowed Burns to move up to third, setting up Sirota's heroics.
Top Performers
• Perry and Vera each smacked three hits on the day, and both had a pair of hits in the nightcap.
• Burns and Sosa also posted two hits apiece in the second game.
• Burns (2-4) allowed just two runs (one earned) to earn the win in relief, striking out three while scattering seven hits.
Next Up
The Rangers (7-13) return to Landmark Conference action on Saturday, when they host Juniata College in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
