Box Score
 
WHITTIER, Calif. (March 9, 2015) – Despite a fifth inning, two-run home run from senior center fielder Al Krause, the Drew University baseball team dropped a date with Whittier College, 9-3, on Tuesday in its third game of the 2015 West Coast swing.
 
Krause's round tripper was part of a 2-for-4 day at the plate, as he was one of four Rangers to record two hits. Senior backstop Robert Auletti notched his first two base knocks of the year on four tries, while senior shortstop Steve Kowalski and junior second baseman Anthony Feltre each contributed a pair of their own.
 
The Rangers (0-4) excel at the small-ball style of offense, and while that strategy has its advantages, there's nothing like a bomb. That's exactly what Krause delivered in the fifth inning. After a two-out gapper from Kowalski, Krause unloaded, sending a fly to deep left and cutting the 5-1 deficit at the time in half with one swing. The offensive threat would end there and Krause's foot would be the last to touch home plate for Drew on Tuesday.
 
Drew's offense kicked off when sophomore left fielder Richie Poland ripped an extra-base hit into the left-center field gap as he motored around second to earn a triple. He would later trot home on an error by the first baseman. Yet, for the second straight day, the Rangers couldn't capitalize on the big inning. The Poets thwarted Drew's efforts by gunning down the lead runner on a Kowalski sacrifice attempt and then catching him as he tried to steal second. The Rangers trailed the Poets 4-1 after three.
 
Drew's offense was bubbling with potential and despite having just pushed across a single run, it had chased the Whittier starter after just three innings. Feltre welcomed the Whittier reliever with a single up the middle. The Poets' long relief man found his form, however, and Drew was turned aside.
 
With the Rangers struggling to spark a rally and the Poets chipping away at sophomore starter Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Whittier lead expanded to 5-1 by the fifth. Despite a tiresome afternoon, Fitzpatrick still managed to post a respectable line of five innings pitched and four earned runs on five hits.
 
After Drew's fifth inning homer, it would take until the eighth before the Rangers would threaten again. By this point Whittier had expanded its lead to 8-3, but Drew had loaded the bases with only one out. The Poet pitcher retired the first man on strikes and got the next to fly out to center, and the Rangers were turned away again. That would be their last chance at a rally.
 
Drew's West Coast quest for that elusive first victory continues on with a trip to Occidental College in sunny Los Angeles. The game will take place on Wednesday, March 11 at 4:00 p.m. ET (1:00 p.m. PT).