HUNTINGDON, N.J. (March 28, 2015) – The Drew University baseball team succumbed to the base on balls in one fateful inning as the Rangers fell 5-3 at Juniata College on Saturday afternoon in the first contest of a three-game Landmark Conference series.
 
Senior shortstop Steve Kowalski led the Rangers (5-9, 3-3) at the plate, batting 3-for-5 with two runs and a stolen base to extend his Landmark leading lead to 14.  Sophomore catcher Mike Miraglia continued his hot streak with 2-for-5 day at the plate, while junior second baseman Anthony Feltre (2-for-4) drove in a run, scored one and stole a base in the loss.
 
It was the first Landmark win for the Eagles (5-8, 1-6), who managed just three hits, but a couple went down as clutch RBIs in the five-run second inning, Juniata's only scoring output on Saturday.
 
After a sacrifice RBI bunt by senior center fielder Al Krause in the first inning and a run-scoring Juniata error in the second, the Rangers and sophomore starting pitcher Patrick Boyle took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the second.
 
It was a no-contact kind of day for Juniata against Boyle. Drew's starting southpaw notched eight strikeouts and allowed just three hits over six innings of work. However, three walks, a hit by pitch and a wild pitch helped lead to a crooked number in the fifth frame. Juniata delivered two one-out singles to take a 5-2 lead.
 
Drew went hitless in the fourth through sixth innings against the Eagles starter. In the top of the eighth, Drew loaded the bases with two outs, but the Juniata closer escaped danger with the 5-2 lead in tact on the way to the save.
 
The Rangers did not go down without a fight in the top of ninth as Kowalski led things off with a single and a quick stolen base. With two outs and two on, Feltre singled down the left field line for the RBI to cut the lead to 5-3. Miraglia would single to load the bases, but the rally would end there.

Drew's freshman reliever Joe Dahut hurled a scoreless and hitless final two innings with one walk and two strikeouts.
 
Drew will wrap up its Landmark series at Juniata on Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m.