JERSEY CITY, N.J. (March 18, 2015) – It may not have been baseball weather, but it certainly was Drew Baseball at its finest.
 
A two-hit shutout by sophomore starting pitcher Patrick Boyle gave the Drew University baseball team a 1-0 win over defending Landmark Conference champions Susquehanna University, and the Rangers completed the conference sweep with a 6-2 victory on a blustery and frigid Wednesday morning into afternoon.
 
Playing at the neutral Caven Point Athletic Complex in Jersey City, a Game 1 pitchers duel was won by Boyle, who allowed two hits and four walks in a complete-game, seven-inning effort with four strikeouts. Senior center fielder Al Krause knocked in the game's only run with a sacrifice fly in the third inning.
 
Sophomore starting pitcher Tommy Broyles followed suit in Game 2, going the distance and allowing two runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out two. The Rangers (3-6) provided Broyles with an early lead thanks to a four-run second inning, and added two more in the fourth to increase the lead over the 2014 Landmark champs Susquehanna (3-7).
 
"It was great fundamental baseball," said head coach Brian Hirschberg. "Our pitchers gave us the chance to win both games by throwing strikes and getting ahead of hitters. Our offense scored early, which allowed us to play loose and play our style of game. They did an outstanding job today."
 
Boyle's Two-Hit Shutout Leads Rangers Past Crusaders in Landmark Opener
Box Score
 
Drew manufactured a run in the third inning when senior shortstop Steve Kowalski led off with a walk, promptly stole second, and advanced to third on a passed ball all with no outs. Krause gave Boyle all the run support he would need with a deep sacrifice fly to right field.
 
Boyle's impressive stat line was also aided by some spectacular defense. The Rangers were errorless on Wednesday, and were ready for the chilly and windy conditions. Boyle made one of those eye-opening defensive plays in the top of the third inning with one out and a runner on first. The sophomore coaxed a pop up halfway down the third baseline in fair territory. Boyle laid out for a diving catch and popped up to fire to first base to record the double play and end the inning.
 
Susquehanna would get a runner to scoring position in the fourth, but Boyle and the Rangers escaped the inning unscathed as the Drew starter would go on to retire the final 11 Crusaders in a row.
 
"There were two special performances on the mound by two hard-working and tough pitchers," Hirschberg said. "The defense wanted to play hard for them. Coach Lou Colon had the defense prepared for anything, including this weather. They were out on the turf yesterday because we knew the conditions would mirror today."
 
Four-Run Second Hands Drew the Doubleheader Sweep Over Susquehanna
Box Score
 
The Rangers pounced on Susquehanna for four runs in the second inning in support of a solid start by Broyles. Drew's power and speed made a dangerous combination as the balls found gaps in the specious outfield of Caven Point and aggressive base running set the stage.
 
Sophomore catcher Mike Miraglia sparked the scoring spurt with an RBI double playing junior second baseman Anthony Feltre, who led off the second with a triple to dead center field. Later with one out, freshman right fielder Ryan Sabbag tagged the second triple of the inning to score two more before Krause capped the inning with an RBI single through the right side for the 4-0 lead.
 
Susquehanna got one back on a sac fly in the top of the third, but Drew did them one better in the home half of the frame. Three more hits and a bases-loaded walk drawn by sophomore left fielder Marc Cohen made it 5-1, and Sabbag notched his third RBI of the game with a bases loaded, run-scoring single.
 
Broyles would allow another sacrifice fly in the fifth, but shut the door after by retiring the final eight Crusaders in a row.
 
Krause, Miraglia and Sabbag all had multi-hit games in the second game of the doubleheader sweep of the defending Landmark Conference champions.
 
The Rangers will continue Landmark Conference play on Saturday, March 21 with a doubleheader against The United States Merchant Marine Academy, who will host the conference series at Baseball Heaven in Yaphank, N.Y. The doubleheader on Saturday will begin at noon, as will the single, nine-inning game on Sunday.