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MADISON, N.J. (March 24, 2016) – A five-run comeback rally in the bottom of the ninth inning fell just short as the Drew University baseball team dropped a non-conference contest, 10-9, to New Jersey City University at Doc Young Field on Thursday.
 
A see-saw battle saw the Rangers (6-10) up 3-1 after one inning, tied with the Gothic Knights (9-4) after four, and down six runs heading into their last licks in the ninth. Sophomore shortstop Isaiah Mateo starting the final inning with a single and scored off a one-out RBI single by junior catcher Mike Miraglia. Junior designated hitter Tommy Broyles singled to load the bases, allowing sophomore right fielder Ryan Sabbag to drive home two runs on a hard infield single that ricocheted off the shortstop's chest and into the outfield.
 
After a walk and an RBI on an error, freshman pinch hitter Zach Lipshitz cut the NJCU lead to 10-9 with a sacrifice fly. Drew batted around, and with the tying run on second base, Mateo ended the game on a strikeout.
 
Miraglia was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs, while senior first baseman Bobby Miskura was the only other Ranger to record multiple hits against NJCU pitching. Sabbag and junior third baseman Jonathan Rodrigues each drove in two runs.
 
The Gothic Knights' 16-hit attack began in the first inning against Drew's freshman starting pitcher Davis Fouts, who turned in a solid line of five innings, nine hits and four runs while allowing just one walk and striking out three. NJCU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on four hits, and missed an opportunity as Miraglia started a strike-him-out, throw-him-out double play.
 
Drew erased the early lead in the bottom of the first with three runs on three hits, with Miraglia freshman left fielder Jayson Mitch and Rodrigues picking up RBIs. The next tilt of the see-saw came in the top of the fourth, when the Knights broke through against Fouts for three more runs. They got one on a passed ball, and another two after an RBI single turned into two runs after the play resulted in an unsuccessful rundown.
 
Fouts worked a 1-2-3 fourth inning, and the Rangers rewarded him by taking him off the hook for the loss with a run in the bottom half of the frame. Drew started the inning with two walks, and a productive fly out to deep right field moved Mateo to third with just one out. Miraglia grounded into an RBI fielder's choice to tie the game at 4-4.
 
Fouts finished his day by retiring the Knights in order in the fifth with the aid of an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play. The score remained tied through the sixth inning thanks to a nice defensive play by the Rangers in the top half. After two unsuccessful rundowns earlier in the game, a third chance proved fruitful as NJCU attempted to steal with runners on the corners with two outs. Joe Dahut, the new Ranger pitcher, picked off the runner at first, Miskura tossed to Mateo, who made a heads up play to catch the runner attempting to steal home and ending the inning.
 
New Jersey City, however, would take the lead in the seventh on a two-run home run over the right field hedges.
 
The Gothic Knights piled on in the eighth, scoring what seemed to be plenty of insurance at the time with four runs on three hits. They led 10-4 heading into the final inning after Drew went down in order in the eighth inning.
 
The Rangers have a quick turnaround back into Landmark Conference play on Friday, March 25 at The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. They will a single nine-inning game on Friday at 3:30 p.m., followed by a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 11:00 a.m.