MADISON, N.J. (April 2, 2016) – Junior starting pitchers
Patrick Boyle and
Ryan Fitzpatrick combined for 25 strikeouts as the Drew University baseball team swept a Saturday Landmark Conference doubleheader against Juniata College, 6-1 and 3-2, at Doc Young Field.
Top Performers: Fitzpatrick toed the rubber in Game 2 and struck out 14 batters, setting a new school record for a seven-inning game and tying for second all-time for strikeouts in a single game behind Dave Yorke's 15 in 1995. The junior hurler gave up five hits and two runs in the victory. The lights out pitching effort was a continuation of Boyle's precedence set in Game 1, when he sat down 11 Eagles (7-15, 3-6) via strikeout, a mark that is now tied for sixth all-time for a single game. Boyle allowed just two hits and a run in seven innings of work.
Other Highlights: Less than 24 hours after being taken out of a game for an injury, senior first baseman
Bobby Miskura returned to the starting lineup in both ends of the twin bill and batted a combined 3-for-7 with three runs and two RBIs. Junior left fielder
Tommy Broyles continued to justify his role as cleanup hitter by hitting 1-for-3 with an RBI in Game 1, followed by a 2-for-2, two RBI performance in Game 2. Junior catcher
Mike Miraglia and junior third baseman
Jonathan Rodrigues each picked up two hits in the 3-2 victory in the second game.
The Turning Point: The Rangers put up a crooked number in the second inning of Game 1 to back Boyle's brilliant start on the mound. Miskura knocked in two on a single, Broyles picked up an RBI base hit, and freshman right fielder
Jayson Mitch lined a sacrifice fly to center for the 6-1 lead in the second, which would hold as the final score. In Game 2, Fitzpatrick's only blemish was giving up a solo home run in the third inning to give Juniata a 1-0 lead, but Drew answered right back in bottom half of the frame with RBIs from Broyles and sophomore center fielder
Ryan Sabbag. Another Broyles run-scoring hit in the fifth loomed large as it gave Drew a 3-1 lead, which it needed after the Eagles got another one off Fitzpatrick in the seventh. Fitzpatrick finished off his historic start by getting his 14th strikeout to end the game.
Playoff Picture: Drew moves its overall record to 12-12 and 6-3 in the Landmark Conference. Midway through the Landmark schedule, the Rangers' league record places them in fourth. Every team will be in action on Sunday except Drew and Juniata, and Elizabethtown College at 4-4 can pull even with the Rangers with a win at Moravian College.
Up Next: The Rangers enjoy a week off before rebooting Landmark Conference play at Moravian College on Saturday, April 9. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. in Bethlehem, Pa.
