Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
MADISON, N.J. (March 24, 2012) – Senior Steven Debonis (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) led Drew (7-7, 1-2 Landmark) to its first ever win over Catholic University (13-7, 2-4 Landmark) with a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth in 9-8, game one victory. The Cardinals went on to win the series with a 9-0 triumph in game two.
 
Game 1 –
The Rangers looked to be headed for a second loss in the series, as they came in to the bottom of the fifth inning trailing, 7-0.  But the momentum turned in Drew's favor when DeBonis came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs.  DeBonis hit a hard single right at the Cardinals second baseman, knocking in Al Krause (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus), and keeping the bases loaded for Tom Murray (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial). The senior designated hitter chopped a ball to the left side and Cardinal shortstop, Dan Hinchcliff, committed a throwing error allowing all three runners on base to score.  Pete Tuchol (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) continued the rally with a single to score Murray, bringing the total Ranger runs for the inning to five.
 
Drew starter Tom Koontz (Allentown, N.J./Allentown) would allow the last Cardinals run of the game in the top of the sixth to make the score 8-5.  Koontz pitched six innings for the Rangers, striking out two and walking three.
 
Krause was once again the catalyst of a three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth, earning a walk to lead off the inning and was followed by Drew Obergfell (Cranford, N.J./Roselle Catholic) who was hit by a pitch. The Cardinals, who committed four errors on the day, hurt themselves again botching a sacrifice bunt attempt by Chris Roll (Linden, N.J./Union County Vo-Tech) to load the bases.  With the infield in, Dominic Reyes (Jersey City, N.J./Ferris) grounded a ball to to short that gunned Krause at the plate but an errant throw on the double play attempt to first, scored two runs and allowed Reyes to advance all the way to third. Reyes would later score on an RBI ground out by Michael Bodden (Toms River, N.J./Monsignor Donovan) to tie the game up at eight.
 
Junior Pat Rock (Cranston, R.I./Providence Country Day) took over for Koontz in the top of the seventh and shut the door on the Cardinal offense.  Rock faced seven batters in two innings of work, recording three strikeouts and allowing one hit. 
 
His counterpart, Catholic reliever Thomas Travaglia, who had allowed the three Ranger runs in the sixth, escaped the seventh inning, but was unable to get through the eighth unscathed. Senior Drew Obergfell (Cranford, N.J./Roselle Catholic) started the eighth for the Rangers with a line drive single up the middle.  Pinch runner Michael Scarzafava (Cliffside Park, N.J./Cliffside Park) was in danger of being stranded when Catholic intentionally walked Bodden, bringing DeBonis to the plate for the two-on two-out at bat.  DeBonis laced the first pitch through the left side to bring Scarzafava across the plate with the winning run for Drew.
 
Game 2 –
The Rangers found themselves in an early hole as the Cardinals scored a total of six runs in their first three trips to the plate. Catholic starter Adam Schroth was brilliant, allowing just one hit over six innings of work, recording five strikeouts along the way.
 
The Cardinals plated four runs in the third inning, led by an RBI triple off the bat of Marc Hanna who would later score off a wild pitch from Drew starter Alex Taylor (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick).  Hanna went three-for-three in the game, with two RBI's and two runs scored.  With the next two batters both reaching, Brendan Breslin doubled with no outs to bring the score to 5-0.  The last run of the inning came across the plate after the sacrifice fly from Colin McCarthy. 
 
The Cardinals never looked back, stretching their lead to 9-0 in a four-hit fifth inning. 

Freshman pitcher Matthew Hunter (Forest Hills, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) proved to be a bright spot for Drew, getting the Rangers out of the fourth inning, and allowing only two hits and striking out three in three innings of work.
 
The Rangers travel to Centenary College this Wednesday.  First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.