MADISON, N.J. – The Drew University softball team went toe-to-toe with Landmark Conference foe Elizabethtown College all afternoon, but came up on the short end of a pair of decisions Monday afternoon at a rainy Drew University Softball Complex on Senior Day. The Blue Jays earned a 6-5 victory in the opener before capturing a 6-4, eight-inning decision in the nightcap.
 
Senior Day
Prior to the start of the game, Drew seniors Katie Grodski and Cara O'Leary were recognized in a brief ceremony.
 
Game 1 Highlights
• The Rangers struck first in the opener, jumping to a 3-0 lead with a four-hit second inning, which was capped by a two-run single from freshman Madi Precht.
• After O'Leary tossed a pair of shutout innings, the Blue Jays pulled even in the top of the third. Lindsey Fasolo tied the game with a two-run homer.
• Drew went back in front, 4-3, with an unearned run in the bottom of the inning before E-town took its first lead of the day with a three-run, five-hit fourth to go up 6-4.
• The Rangers pulled to within a run in the sixth on an RBI-groundout from freshman Paxtan Perry. Then in the seventh, Drew had the go-ahead run on base after freshman Renata Primmer and Kaylie Kaffl roped back-to-back singles, but Blue Jay pitcher Amber Sergas struck out a batter to end the game.
 
 Game 2 Highlights
• It was a pitcher's duel in the early going, as E-town's Alyssa Wilkinson and Drew sophomore Stephanie Burns allowed just one run over the first five innings.
• The Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third, when Precht was hit by a pitch and scored on a two-out single from Grodski.
• Elizabethtown went in front 3-1 with a three-run, three-hit sixth. But Drew came right back with two of their own in the bottom of the inning, scoring on a wild pitch and an infield error.
• With darkness setting in, international tiebreaking rules came into effect in the eighth, and the Blue Jays pushed across three runs on one hit, one error, and a bases-loaded walk.
• The hosts refused to go quietly, however, threatening in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore Sophie Sirota was placed on second to start the inning, and she scored on an error with no outs. The Rangers had the go-ahead run at the plate after Precht drew a two-out walk, but reliever Sarah Hartinger induced a pop-out to end the game.
 
Top Performers
• Kaffl ended the day 4-for-7, collecting two hits in each game.
• Precht finished 3-for-6, including 3-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases in the opener.
• Grodski went 3-for-8 at the plate.
• O'Leary tossed a complete game in the opener, finishing with four strikeouts.
• Burns worked 5 2/3 innings in the second game, allowing three runs on six hits and a pair of walks.
 
Next Up
The Rangers return home on Thursday, when they take on Arcadia University in a non-conference doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. in the team's final home games of the season.