The Drew University softball team defeated the Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks at home in both games of a double-header on Tuesday, April 18. These wins progressed the Rangers softball team to 20-11, achieving their seventh 20-win season and second back-to-back 20-win seasons in program history according to drewrangers.com.
The Rangers crushed the Ducks in an 8-0 score in the first game before clawing their way to a 3-2 victory in the last three innings of the second game.
During the first game Haley Meierhofer (‘26) hit her seventh home run of the season, tying the school record for home runs in one season set by Kerry Crowley (C’08) in 2008.
Game one, pitched by No. 7 Bailey Comeau (‘23), started strong with the team picking up two easy outs in the top of the first followed by a strike-out by Comeau. In the bottom of the first, the Rangers scored three runs, propelling themselves to 3-0.
The fourth run came when Meierhofer hit a home run over the right-center field fence.
The fifth inning brought three more runs for the Rangers. Madi Precht (‘23) and Meierhofer were both walked to begin the inning before Molly O’Brien (‘23) hit a single, batting in Precht before advancing to second off an error while Meierhofer scored unearned.
The sixth and final inning of the second game saw a sacrifice fly by Aurora Mariano (‘26) so Brianna Seals (‘23) could score after stealing second and third on prior pitches. This ended the first game 8-0 for the Rangers.
The second game saw the Rangers fall behind after the Ducks scored two runs in the top of the third inning off errors. The Ranges put up their first run in the bottom of the fourth after Precht bunted to get on base. A sacrifice bunt by Meierhofer advanced Precht to second before Deja Robinson (‘25) hit a grounder to short-stop, driving Precht in to score.
Down 2-1, the Rangers fought back in the bottom of the sixth inning with runners Precht and O’Brien scoring. Up 3-2 going into the final inning, the Rangers prevented the Ducks from getting a runner on base before pitcher Teagan Bradley (‘25) struck out the final batter to end the game.
The Drew University softball team plays next at home against the Centenary University Cyclones on April 26 at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. for a double header.
Brandon Dennis is a junior majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing.
