SCRANTON, Pa. – The Drew University baseball team erased an eight-run deficit but was unable to complete the comeback as the University of Scranton handed the Rangers an 18-12 setback in a wild Landmark Conference matchup on Wednesday.
 
Trailing 9-2, the Rangers (14-11, 6-7 LC) went in front with eight runs on six hits in the sixth inning. However, the Royals reclaimed the lead for good with six runs in the bottom of the frame.
 
Freshman Jack Mocik went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles for the Rangers while junior Raiden Yost also collected three hits. Junior Ryan Jones went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBIs, and a pair of runs scored while freshman Aiden Mitchell also smacked a pair of hits. In addition, senior Billy Coleman knocked in three runs.
 
Jake Lopez finished 4-for-5 at the plate to lead Scranton (17-5, 8-3), who evened the season series between the two teams at one game apiece after the Rangers won the series opener 9-2 back on March 27.
 
Mitchell put the Rangers up 1-0 with an RBI-single in the top of the fourth. Junior Nic Curcio blanked the Royals over the first three innings before running into trouble in the bottom half, when Scranton erupted for nine runs on six hits.
 
A sacrifice fly from senior Anthony Hernandez one inning later made it a 9-2 game before Drew erupted with its big sixth inning, when 12 batters came to the plate.
 
The first seven batters reached base, starting with a leadoff walk from Coleman. The Rangers followed up with four straight hits, including three consecutive singles from Mitchell, sophomore Kyle Johnson, and Mocik. Johnson and Mocik knocked in one run each.
 
After junior Dallas Lorenzetti walked, Jones smacked a two-run double that made it 9-6 before Yost followed up with a two-run single to pull the Rangers within one. After Scranton's second relief pitcher of the inning recorded two outs, Coleman kept the rally going with an RBI-triple before an error put the Rangers on top 10-9.
 
The Royals went up 15-10 after their big inning, but Mocik led off the seventh with a double before eventually scoring to make it a four-run game. But Scranton answered again, this time with two runs in the bottom half to make it 17-11.
 
Each side scored a run in the eighth. Mocik drove home Drew's final run with a double.
 
Eight different pitchers entered the game for the Rangers. Sophomore Chris Tobia and senior TJ Shuman tossed one scoreless inning apiece.
 
Drew returns to action on Saturday, when it hosts Lycoming College in the start of a Landmark Conference series with a doubleheader starting at noon.