MADISON, N.J. – Senior Mike Gallaro drilled a go-ahead, two-run single in the bottom of the eighth and junior Kyle Johnson pitched three stellar innings of relief as the Drew University baseball team defeated Mount Saint Vincent 7-5 in a non-conference tilt Thursday afternoon at Doc Young Field at Lonnstrom Stadium.
 
Johnson (1-0) retired nine of the 11 batters he faced while striking out two en route to his first win of the season and second of his career. Freshman Breckyn DeAngelis came on to toss a scoreless ninth to earn his third save of the season.
 
Senior Will Fritch and freshman Zach Maxwell collected two hits apiece for the Rangers (14-14).
 
It was a 5-5 game heading into the bottom of the eighth when freshman Anthony Vallaro reached on an error leading off. Senior Matt Myers then bunted his way on and the first baseman's toss to first was off the mark, allowing the Rangers to put runners on second and third.
 
Gallaro, who had entered the game as a defensive replacement at catcher, then stepped to the plate and drilled the first pitch into right-centerfield for what held up as the game-winning hit.
 
In the top of the ninth, the Dolphins (16-11) threatened when the first two batters reached on a single and a walk, but DeAngelis escaped with a pair of groundouts and a flyout.
 
Mount Saint Vincent took a 1-0 lead versus senior starter Kenny Yonker in the first, but the Rangers tied it in the bottom half on an RBI-single from Maxwell. However, the visitors went up 3-1 with a two-run second before Drew tied it with a two-run third.
 
Mount Saint Vincent went back on top (4-3) with a single run in the fourth before Yonker blanked the Dolphins in the fifth. He ran into trouble in the sixth, when UMSV led off with consecutive singles, before Johnson was summoned out of the bullpen. Johnson recorded a flyout and strikeout, and after the leadoff batter was intentionally walked, he coaxed an inning-ending groundout.
 
Johnson went on toss a three-up, three-down seventh before the Rangers took their first lead in the bottom of the inning, when senior Anthony Diaz Jr. led off with a double before scoring on a balk. Maxwell reached on a bunt single and eventually crossed the plate on a passed ball to put Drew up 5-4.
 
Johnson retired the first batter in the eighth before Conor Martin slugged a solo homer to pull the Dolphins even. However, Johnson induced a pair of flyouts to set up Drew's rally in the bottom half.
 
The Rangers return to action on Friday, when they visit Juniata College in a Landmark Conference doubleheader starting at noon on the opening day of a three-game series.