Bearcats Score Go-Ahead Run in Eighth to Defeat Rangers

MADISON, N.J. (April 15, 2010) – The Rangers were on the short end of their ninth one-run ballgame of the season today as Baruch scored an eighth inning run to win, 6-5. Baruch captures its first win ever in the all-time series against Drew in their first meeting since 1996.

The Rangers put themselves in an early hole as they watched three Bearcats cross the plate in the top of the first inning. The first two batters of the game reached base and the leadoff man would score only three batters in on a sacrifice fly from David Chestnut.

Drew (6-22) got on the board in the bottom of the third inning when Louis Gialanella (Long Branch, N.J./Long Branch) picked up the first of his two hits on the day to drive in Tom Murray (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) who reached on a single of his own to lead off the inning.

Baruch (9-13) would post two runs in the top of the fourth inning to open its lead back up to three. Drew responded in the bottom half of the inning with when Drew Obergfell (Cranford, N.J/Roselle Catholic) pulled the Rangers within one on a single swing of the bat. Obergfell tagged Jason Valentin pitch over the left field wall for his career home run.

With the score 4-2 going into the seventh inning, the scorching Michael Bodden (Toms River, N.J./Monsignor Donovan) was issued a lead-off walk. Bodden then took all small-ball efforts out of the equation as he swiped second base and two pitches later took third. With a man on third, the three-hitter Peter Tuchol (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) delivered a double that cleared the left fielder's head to score Bodden and tie the game at five.

The Bearcats offense would bounce right back and loaded the bases in the top half of the inning with one out. Baruch center fielder John Avona then poked a ball deep enough to right field to bring in the eventual game-winning run.

The Rangers are now 1-8 in one-run games in the 2010 season. With the exception of the opening inning Ben Lynch (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) put together a solid outing going seven innings, allowing four earned runs and struck out seven batters.

Drew will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday before opening up a three-game series with Landmark conference opponent Scranton. The first game of the doubleheader will start at 1:00.