MADISON, N.J. – The Drew University baseball team nearly erased a late four-run deficit, but Saint Elizabeth University held on for a 7-6 victory in the Rangers' season opener on Friday on the first day of the Madison Avenue Challenge at FDU-Florham.
 
Drew scored three times in the bottom of the eighth after trailing 7-3. The Rangers put the go-ahead run on base in the bottom of the ninth but the Eagles were able to escape.
 
Junior Dallas Lorenzetti finished 2-for-3 with a double for the Rangers while senior Anthony Diaz Jr. finished 2-for-4. Senior Anthony Hernandez slugged a triple and scored two runs.
 
Drew held early 2-1 and 3-2 leads, but the SEU used a five-run fifth to open up its four-run advantage.
 
In the eighth, Lorenzetti drilled an RBI-single before two more runs scored on an error.
 
Drew had two on base with one out in the ninth after Diaz was hit with a pitch and junior Raiden Yost drew a walk. But Felix Ayon got a pair of outs to earn the save.
 
Starting pitcher Brandon Kobryn and freshman Aidan Bauer each tossed two innings before junior Nic Curcio tossed five scoreless frames, striking out six while allowing just three hits.
 
The Rangers conclude the Challenge on Saturday, when they return to FDU-Florham to face the Devils at 1:30 p.m.