Six-Run Comeback Not Enough to Overtake Crusaders

MADISON, N.J. (April 11, 2010) – After trailing all afternoon, the Rangers finally got back into the game with two late rallies and tied the game in the bottom of the eighth. The tie would be short lived as the Crusaders put up five runs in the top of the ninth to take the rubber game of the three game series.

The Rangers were in an early hole as Susquehanna (12-13, 4-8 Landmark) started out of the gates by posting four runs in the top of the inning. The Crusaders took advantage of three walks issued by starter Tom Koontz (Allentown, N.J./Allentown) and swiped four bases to put runners in scoring position.

The Rangers would answer in the bottom half of the inning as leadoff man Tom Sharp (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) walked on four straight pitches. With Sharp aboard and one out, Michael Bodden (Toms River, N.J./Monsignor Donovan) dug in and took a hanging curveball over the left field wall to pull the Rangers within two.

After a three-run Crusader fifth inning, Drew (5-20, 3-9 Landmark) began to chip away at the 8-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Drew would send nine batters to the plate and pull within a run. The Rangers loaded the bases for freshman Kyle O'Neill (Basking Ridge, N.J./Gill St. Benards) who hit a ground ball to second base and beat out the throw to pick up his eighth RBI of the season. Matt McGrath (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) then stepped in with two outs and lined a ball to right field to make the score 8-4. The two-out rally would continue when Drew Obergfell (Cranford N.J./Roselle Catholic) found a hole between the shortstop and third to drive in O'Neil to get the score to 8-6. The inning was extended by a Susquehanna error loading the bases again for the Rangers. Pinch hitter Peter Tuchol (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood), who earned himself a walk, got McGrath in for the final run of the inning and made the score 8-7.

The Rangers found themselves in down 9-7 in their turn at bat as Susquehanna added a run in the top of the eighth inning. With two runners on and one out Louis Gialanella (Long Branch, N.J./Long Branch), who was just inserted into the game because on an injury, delivered a single to bring the Rangers again within one run. Yesterday afternoon's hero, McGrath, then got the tying run home when he ripped a ball to the third baseman and the throw to first brought the first baseman off the bag allowing the run to score.

The tie would not last long as the Crusaders strung together three straight hits in the top of ninth that eventually brought five runs in the top of the ninth. Susquehanna made the most of their last at bats in the series, scoring a total of 16 runs in the seventh and ninth innings of the series.

The Rangers will play three home games this week starting Tuesday when they take on Yeshiva at 3:00 on Doc Young Field.