SCRANTON, Pa. – Senior Sarah Stepnowski (Monroe Twp., N.J./Monroe) broke the all-time Landmark Conference triples record and The University of Scranton softball team (14-6, 1-3 Landmark) split a doubleheader with the Drew University Rangers (12-10, 3-5 Landmark) on Tuesday at Magis Field in Scranton.
Scranton dropped an 11-1 decision in game one before salvaging the split with a 3-1 victory in the nightcap.
Stepnowski's record-breaking triple came in the second inning of game two as it was the 18th of her career, which surpasses the previous Landmark record of 17 that had been set by Susquehanna's Brennan Balfour in 2011.
Drew 11, Scranton 1
The Rangers grabbed an early 6-1 lead through two innings and were able to record the 11-1 win in game one.
Drew scored two in the top of the first, but the Royals quickly answered with a run in the home half as freshman Celia Totaro (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) led off with a single, stole second and scored on an error charged to Drew CF Molly O'Brien.
However, Drew then scored four runs in the top of the second and was able to take control of the game.
Freshman Juliana Janezic (Southington, Conn./Cheshire Academy) was dealt the loss for the Royals as she allowed four runs on five hits while fanning one in an inning plus of work.
Teagan Bradley got the win for the Rangers as she gave up a run on six hits to go along with two walks and five strikeouts over 7.0 IP.
Sophomore Keira Corrigan (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) tallied a pair of hits in the contest for Scranton.
Scranton 3, Drew 1
The Royals grabbed an early 3-0 lead and never looked back to earn the split of the doubleheader with the 3-1 victory in game two.
Totaro led off the bottom of the first with a triple and scored on Stepnowski's RBI single which gave the hosts an early 1-0 edge. In the second inning, Stepnowski delivered a two-out, two-run triple that extended the lead to 3-0.
Sophomore Carley Noble (Allentown, N.J./Allentown) earned the win in the circle for Scranton as she allowed one run on six hits to go along with two walks and five strikeouts in 5 1/3 IP. Fellow sophomore Soleil Dooner (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) came on in relief and struck out one over 1 2/3 shutout IP to notch her first save of the year.
Allie Porbansky was dealt the loss for the Rangers after giving up three runs on seven hits while walking one and fanning two in 6.0 IP.
Stepnowski (2-3, 3B, 3 RBI) and junior Kylie Rochford (Tinton Falls, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) who added two hits and a stolen base led the way offensively for the Royals.
Scranton is back in action with a Landmark Conference doubleheader at Susquehanna on Saturday afternoon. First pitch of game one is slated for 1 p.m.
--ROYALS--
