Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SELINSGROVE, Pa. (April 13, 2013) – The Drew baseball team earned a doubleheader split this afternoon in the first two games of a three-game Landmark Conference series. The Rangers hung on to a 3-2 victory in game one and the Crusaders held off a late Drew charge to win game two, 3-2.

The Rangers move to 10-17 on the season and 3-8 in the Landmark Conference. The Crusaders improve their overall record to 12-17 and are now 6-5 in Landmark Conference play.

Game 1
The Rangers used a three-run 5^th inning to capture their third Landmark Conference win of the season. The Crusaders had a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the fifth after scoring runs in their first two at bats.

Senior Justin Mancini (Haskell, N.J./Lakeland Regional) got the rally going, singling to right field. The Susquehanna defense committed back-to-back errors on two Drew sacrifice bunt attempts. With the score 2-1, Michael Bodden (Toms River, N.J./Monsignor Donovan) singled to center that scored two runs and gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead.

Starting pitcher Alex Taylor (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) was credited with his third win of the season, pitching five innings allowing only three hits and two runs. Senior Pat Rock (Cranston, R.I./Providence Country Day) came on to pitch the final two innings to earn his first save of the season. He surrendered only one hit and struck out a batter.

The Rangers spoiled a solid effort by Susquehanna starter, Spencer Hotaling who tossed all seven innings and did not allow an earned run. He struck out six batters and scattered five Ranger hits.

Game 2
It was almost a repeat of game one in the nightcap but saw a Drew comeback fall short in its final two innings. The Rangers were struggled on the defensive side of the ball, committing five errors.

The Crusaders recorded just three hits in the second game but were able to push across two runs in the fourth and another in the bottom of the fifth. The only RBI of the game came off the bat of Bryan Palsi who singled to center in the fourth scoring Dan Wing.

The Rangers took advantage of the only Susquehanna error in the top of the sixth scoring their first run of the game. Mancini who was issued a one-out walk earlier in the inning, scored on a wild pitch to make the score 3-2.

Susquehanna closer Matt Smith came on in the seventh and pitched a 1-2-3 inning to earn his conference-leading sixth save of the season. Casey Hood earned the win, not allowing an earned run and striking out seven.

Freshman Drew Blanco (Edison, N.J./John P. Stevens) pitched well for the Rangers, not allowing an earned run and surrendered only three hits.

The two teams will square off in the rubber match tomorrow at 12:00 p.m.