Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MADISON, NJ – Junior right-hander Liane Drastal hurled a shutout in a 2-0 win over Drew as Rutgers-Newark earned a split of a non-conference doubleheader on the Drew Softball Field.  The Rangers took the opener, 8-1.

IN GAME TWO, Drastal (4-3) scattered 11 hits while striking out two and walking two as the Rangers stranded 14 runners – including runners at third in the first, second, third, fifth and seventh innings. It was the second complete-game shutout of the season for Drastal who also blanked Lasell, 4-0, on March 18 in Myrtle Beach, SC.

The Raiders (5-9) committed just one error to help Drastal blank Drew (9-7).

Junior catcher Gabby Spinella drove a two-out double through the middle to plate freshman centerfielder Krista Casale, who had reached on a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior shortstop Tiara Santi, with what proved to be the winning run in the top of the first.

Senior first baseman Monica Bagan doubled home senior third baseman Monica Liotto, who led off the inning with a single through the left side, for an insurance run in the sixth.

Liotto went two for four while Bagan and Drastal were each two for three at the plate to pace the Raiders' nine-hit attack.

IN THE OPENER, Ranger sophomore right-hander Laura D'Ornellas (4-1) limited the Raiders to five hits and Drew broke open a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth with seven runs.

Rutgers-Newark junior Brianna Alicchio (1-6) carried a two-hit shutout into the fifth inning before the Rangers exploded for seven runs on five hits while taking advantage of a pair of Raider errors.

With two away in the top of the sixth, Liotto beat out an infield single before Spinella brought her home with a double to center field for the Raiders' only run.

Liotto and Spinella had two hits apiece to pace the Raiders with a two-out double by junior second baseman Tina Zaggia accounting for the final hit in the seventh.

Rutgers-Newark hosts William Paterson in the New Jersey Athletic Conference opening doubleheader on Friday at 3 p.m. on Alumni Field.  It will also be the Raiders' home opener.