It was a day to remember for Drew University softball, as head coach Erica Mehalick (C’03) notched her 300th career victory in a dominant doubleheader sweep of cross-town rival, FDU-Florham, on April 9. Mehalick has built her legacy across two programs, collecting 157 victories at Stevens Institute of Technology before adding 144 and counting at Drew.
The Rangers took game one 10-6 to secure Mehalick’s monumental win before grinding out a 6-4 victory in a nine-inning thriller in game two. The sweep came against a Devils squad that entered the day with an impressive 17-4 record, underscoring the significance of the performance.
Drew wasted no time asserting control in the opener, jumping out to a commanding 7-0 lead through the first three and a half innings. In the third, Haley Meierhofer (‘26) and Izzy Wiemer (‘29) delivered back-to-back RBI singles before Karly Severinsen (‘27) cleared the bases with a double to make it 5-0.
The Rangers added two more runs in the fourth, maintaining pressure even as the Devils attempted to rally late. Kaitlynne Streets (‘27) and Wiemer helped seal the game in the sixth with clutch hits, including a two-run single from Streets.
In the circle, Allie Porbansky (‘26) earned the win, allowing three runs over four innings, while Gabby Duran (‘28) closed the door with three innings of relief to secure her fourth save of the season.
The nightcap proved to be a battle, with Drew twice erasing early deficits. A run-scoring single from Sloan Walmsley (‘29) tied the game in the third, and Streets delivered again in the fourth to knot things at 2-2.
Olivia Datilio (‘28) took over from there, tossing a complete nine-inning game. She kept the Devils scoreless from the fourth through the seventh, helping push the contest into extra innings.
After trading runs in the eighth, Drew broke through in the ninth. Wiemer delivered an RBI single, and Lorelei Lorentzen (‘29) followed with a two-run single to give the Rangers the lead for good. Lorentzen also provided the final defensive highlight, throwing out the tying run at the plate to end the game.
Streets led the offensive charge across both games, finishing 4-for-8 with three RBIs, while Wiemer drove in four runs on the day. Meierhofer added three hits and scored three times, consistently setting the table at the top of the lineup.
Datilio’s endurance in game two was equally pivotal, scattering nine hits while allowing just two earned runs without issuing a walk.
With momentum on their side and a milestone victory in the books, the Rangers return to action Saturday when they host the University of Scranton in a Landmark Conference doubleheader.
For Mehalick and her squad, Thursday’s sweep was more than just two wins—it was a statement against a rival and a celebration of sustained excellence.
Gillian Sampson is a graduate student in the Masters of Education program.
