FORT PIERCE, Fla. (March 5, 2017) – Sophomore shortstop Zach Lipshitz hit 5-for-8 with three runs and four RBIs as the Drew University baseball team swept Lebanon Valley College, 14-9 and 4-2, in a Sunday doubleheader at the Florida Gulf Coast Spring Training.
 
By the Numbers
The Rangers improve to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in Florida, while the Dutchmen (1-2) drop their first games of the season.
 
Top Performers
• Lipshitz was 3-for-4 with two doubles, three runs and two RBIs in the Game 1 victory, followed by a 2-for-4, two-RBI performance in Game 2. He tripled in Game 2 to run his total base count to nine on the day, and now sports a slugging percentage of .611 this season.
• Senior pitcher Tommy Broyles grabbed his first win on the mound of 2017 with a brilliant relief performance in Game 2. Broyles tossed the final five innings of scoreless ball, allowing a single base runner on a hit in the fourth inning. Broyles retired the final 10 batters of the game and finished with five strikeouts.
• Senior catcher Mike Miraglia continues his hot start to the season with a 5-for-7 day at the plate with four runs and two RBIs.
• Senior Mike DiDonato made his return to the starting lineup with a 3-for-4 mark in Game 1, a double, two runs and two RBIs.
 
The Difference
• Four runs in the first and three more in the second set the stage for the 14-9 win in Game 1, highlighted by run-scoring hits from Miraglia, Broyles and Lipshitz. Sophomore third baseman Eric DiPietro added a sacrifice fly and junior right fielder Ryan Sabbag picked up an RBI double en route to a 7-0 lead.
• In Game 2, the Dutchmen went up 2-1 before Broyles took over in the third inning. To support Broyles' brilliance on the mound, sophomore first baseman Joseph Grossane delivered a game-tying RBI single in the third, followed by Lipshitz's go-ahead RBI triple in the fifth.
 
Game 1 Highlights
• Broyles helped extend the lead in Game 1 with an RBI single in the fourth inning. In addition to his win on the rubber, Broyles was 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs in the opening win.
• Senior center fielder Marc Cohen tripled in the fifth, scoring DiPietro for a 10-5 advantage.
• Drew tacked on four more in the seventh to take a 14-6 lead, led by DiPietro's RBI single up the middle and DiDonato's two-run double to the left-center field gap.
• Sophomore Joshua Williams gave up three hits and a run in the fifth inning, but was the winning pitcher on record after freshman starter Pete Violante went 3.2 innings giving up five runs on 10 hits, just one out shy of qualifying for the win.
 
Game 2 Highlights
• LVC took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before Lipshitz promptly tied the game with an RBI single in the bottom half of the frame.
• Miraglia provided some insurance in the sixth on his fifth and final hit of the doubleheader, an RBI single up the middle to send Cohen home for the 4-2 final score.
 
Stat Sheet
• The Rangers played flawless defense on Sunday, completing 14 innings without a single error. The Dutchmen, meanwhile, made eight defensive miscues.
• Drew combined for 23 hits on Sunday and won Game 1 despite being outhit 15-14.
• The Rangers were 4-for-5 in stolen base attempts with Lipshitz swiping two, and DiDonato and Sabbag getting one apiece.
 
Up Next
The Rangers look to remain undefeated in Florida with a Monday, March 6 date against Misericordia University at 3:30 p.m.