MADISON, N.J. - Despite a late comeback attempt, the Drew University baseball team fell 8-5 in its home opener against Montclair State University Wednesday afternoon at a cold Doc Young Field.

Junior catcher K.J. Hallgren led the Rangers offensively, finishing 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Senior shortstop Cole Bosch, freshman outfielder Ryan Jones, and freshman second baseman Anthony Diaz collected two hits apiece.

Drew fell into an early hole and found themselves trailing 6-0 by the end of the fourth inning. In the bottom of the fifth, however, the Rangers tacked on three runs thanks to a little small ball to start the half.

Jones got things started by driving the ball up the middle just out of reach of Montclair's middle infielders. Diaz then showed off his speed as he successfully reached on a bunt. Freshman third baseman Dallas Lorenzetti advanced the runners to second and third with a beauty of a sacrifice bunt before Hallgren and Bosch drove in Drew's first two runs on back-to-back singles. Hallgren would then advance home as Bosch baited out a throw from the catcher while attempting to steal second.

Two innings later, Hallgren drove in another run off an infield single that ricocheted off the pitcher and into no-mans land. He would later come around to score on a sac fly from junior first baseman Jake Welsh. 

Unfortunately, as the game drew into the early hours of the evening the Rangers weren't given a chance to complete their comeback as the game was called following the eighth due to darkness.

In his first career start, freshman pitcher Tom Wilkie took the loss for Drew, going three innings. Freshman Alex Barbarisi worked 2 2/3 innings before classmate Connor Ruscansky tossed 2 1/3 innings of shutout ball.

The Rangers continue their 11-game home stand this Friday when they take on New Jersey City University at 3:30 p.m.