Acorn

A Spring Break trip to Florida helped the Rangers Softball team discover their new power hitters. The Rangers final record for the week was 6�6. Finishing .500 was a huge accomplishment, according to Coach Tammy Evans. �[After losing the first three games consecutively], it was a great team effort to win six of [the next] nine games on the trip.�Every player stepped it up on different days, which made us grow as a team,� Evans said.

Overall, the Rangers had a combined 77 hits while in Florida. Utility player sophomore Kerry Crowley, the lead-off batter, had three home runs � her long balls tied the record for the most home runs in a single of Drew Softball. In addition, she had a double, a triple, and seven RBI�s. Junior shortstop Melissa Kraft led the Rangers with three doubles, three triples, one home run and 14 RBI�s as junior pitcher Kristen Valle also hit a home run for the Rangers while in Florida.

During the Florida trip, Valle and freshman Lauren Collini each threw a game each day. While Valle won five games and Collini won one, it was a joint effort all around.

�We owe a lot to our pitchers. They threw every day for six days in a row, and they both really stepped it up big time as leaders,� Manning said.

�Our best two games were definitely on the last day of the trip,� Evans said. The first game, against Framingham State, ended with a score of 7-6. Valle took the win with relief pitcher Collini coming into the game in the sixth inning to finish the game. The second game, against Carroll College, finished with a score of 4-2 Drew. Collini took the win.

Reflecting on the Rangers� performance over spring break, Evans said, �Our overall performance improved steadily each game.�The four seniors showed great leadership and dedication to our program. As our team goal, I would like if we could eliminate our mental errors.�

�Even though we started off a bit shaky, we came together at the end of the week and now we�re on a hot winning streak,� Manning said.

Coming off the success of their spring break training, the Rangers pulled out another win against Hunter College on Wednesday. The score was 7-5. Valle took the win, with relief pitcher Collini coming in the seventh inning to earn a save for the game.

Valle also went 3-4 at the plate with two RBI�s, and Kraft also smashed a two-run home run to pull the Rangers ahead. The Rangers hope to bring the same competitiveness to their important conference games this Saturday at Lycoming.

Staying in a �team house� along with their two coaches, Evans and Megan Asselta, was something a little less than what you�d call �luxury.�

Regardless of the team�s comical situation, according to co-captain Lauren Manning, �all 11 players wound up bonding on-and-off the field.�

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