Box Score Madison, N.J. (March 27, 2014) – The Drew University baseball team (5-7) dropped a non-conference contest with in-state rival New Jersey City University (5-8), 14-2 this afternoon at Doc Young Field. The Gothic Knights scored a combined 10 runs in the first two innings.

Senior captain Matthew Kaplon (Palisades Park, N.J./Palisades Park) went 1-for-3 at the dish for the Rangers in the loss. The senior catcher also recorded a double and a RBI on the day. Freshman Jonathan Rodrigues (Monroe Twp, N.J./Monroe Twp.) batted .500 (2-4) on the day with a double and scoring a run.

The Gothic Knights started the scoring in the first inning with a RBI single from Dan Berardi that scored Miguel Aviles who singled to lead off the inning. Eric Giordano then singled home Berardi on the next pitch giving the Gothic Knights an early 2-0 lead. NJCU added one more before the end of the inning taking a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the first.

NJCU opened up a 10-0 lead after a strong hitting performance in the second inning. The Gothic Knights scored seven runs on nine hits in the visitor half of the inning. A Berardi triple was the highlight of the inning for NJCU. Berardi drove a ball 350 feet that hit the wall in deep left field. The Rangers got on the board in the bottom of the second on a Kaplon double that plated sophomore Mike Klinger (Franklin Park, N.J./Rutgers Preparatory School) who doubled in his first appearance at the plate.

Drew scored again in the home half of the fifth. Rodrigues led off the inning with a single up the middle and then scored on a passed ball. The Gothic Knights added four insurance runs in the top of the seventh to close out the 14-2 victory.

Sophomore Nate Brown (Needham, Mass./Needham) pitched 3.1 innings for the Rangers in relief. Brown surrendered six hits and earned two runs in his third appearance of the season. Senior Pat Lydon (Cumberland, R.I./Mount Saint Charles Academy) also pitched two innings in relief for Drew. Lydon held the Gothic Knight offense scoreless and allowed just one hit.

The Rangers return to action on Saturday March 29 at 1:00 p.m. as they host Catholic in a landmark conference doubleheader at Doc Young Field.