SELINSGROVE, Pa. (March 20, 2016) – Despite a rebound performance for the offense against Susquehanna University pitching, the Drew University baseball team dropped the Landmark Conference series finale, 6-4, on Sunday afternoon to hand the Crusaders (9-6) the series sweep.
 
The Rangers (6-8) outhit Susquehanna, 12-10, led by junior catcher Mike Miraglia's 4-for-5 day at the plate. Senior second baseman Anthony Feltre and junior third baseman Jonathan Rodrigues each went 2-for-4, while junior designated hitter Tommy Broyles drove in a pair of runs on his only hit of the game in the first inning.
 
Following a 16-inning doubleheader on Saturday, the Rangers needed length out of their Sunday starting pitcher, and they got just that out of junior Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Drew hurler went seven innings and fell to 0-1 in his fourth start of the season.
 
Drew jumped on Susquehanna in the first inning by loading the bases with no outs before Broyles singled down the left field line to score two. Rodrigues added a two-out RBI two batters later for the 3-0 lead. It didn't last long, howesisver, as Susquehanna tied it up in their first inning with a two-out rally. Then in the third, Susquehanna connected on three doubles in the frame to take a 4-3 lead. The first double was erased from the base baths thanks to Miraglia catching a stolen base attempt at third.
 
A Crusaders solo home run with one out in the fourth provided an important run. Fitzpatrick was finding a groove after allowing the homer from the fourth through sixth innings, retiring seven straight with the aid of a 6-4-3 double play to end the sixth. The Crusaders kept pushing against Fitzpatrick and earned another run in the seventh on a two-out RBI single.
 
The Rangers received a clutch two-out of their own in the eighth as Feltre pulled a double down the left field line to pull Drew within two runs, 6-4. Freshman reliever Jendy Castillo worked a scoreless eighth inning, bringing Drew up in the ninth with just three outs to avoid the series sweep. Sophomore right fielder Ryan Sabbag picked up his 20^th hit of the season, but Susquehanna closed the door on the Sunday win and the three-game sweep.
 
Up next for Drew is a non-conference date at Ramapo College on Tuesday, March 22 at 3:30 p.m. The Rangers return home to Doc Young Field on Thursday, March 24 to host New Jersey City University at 3:30 p.m.