MADISON, N.J. – The Drew University baseball team posted a dramatic rally in the opener to clinch a spot in the Landmark Conference Championships, then won the second game to complete a three-game sweep over Juniata College on Sunday at Doc Young Field at Lonnstrom Stadium in its final Landmark Conference series of the year.
 
The Rangers (23-15, 13-11 LC) erased a seven-run deficit to win the opener 10-9 on a walk-off, two-run double from freshman Anthony Tetto before capturing the second game 8-1.
 
After concluding the regular season this Wednesday, Drew will visit an opponent to be determined the first round of the Landmark Championship on Wednesday, May 6. The remainder of the tournament will be held at Penn Medicine Park in Lancaster, Pa. from May 8-10.
 
Prior to the start of the first game, Drew recognized its six seniors – Nick Bisaccia, Benjamin Cacoilo, Kyle Johnson, Brandon Kobryn, Luke Tambasco, Chris Tobia – and junior Nate Sica, who will graduate from Drew in three years.
 
Sophomore Dylan Gallagher finished 6-for-8 with four runs and three RBIs on the day while Tetto went 4-for-6 with four RBIs. Freshman Mikey Sica tossed eight innings in the second game and allowed just one unearned run on four hits.                               
 
Drew trailed 9-6 heading into the bottom of the ninth of the opener before erupting with four runs. Freshman Matteo Gruendig led off with a pinch-hit walk before scoring following singles from sophomores Frank Master and Zach Maxwell and an outfield error. Gallagher followed up with an RBI-single to make it 9-8.
 
Juniata then changed pitchers, and that's when pinch-runners Kevin Burgess and Jack Mocik executed a double steal, putting runners on second and third. The Eagles then intentionally walked freshman Nick Donofrio before Tetto stepped up and launched a shot over the rightfielder, sending the Rangers onto the field in celebration and into the Landmark postseason.
 
The Eagles never trailed until Tetto's blast in the first game after scoring three runs in the top of the first. Drew came back with single runs in the second and fourth before Juniata put up six runs in the fifth, going up 9-2. The Rangers answered with three runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to make it a 9-6 game, setting up Drew's last-inning comeback.
 
Gallagher finished 4-for-5 in the opener while Tetto went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Master, Donofrio, and junior Tyler Giordano smacked two hits each.
 
Sophomore Brody Allyn (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings to pick up the win after freshman starter Jayce Thoroughman threw four innings and junior Aidan Bauer tossed three innings of relief.
 
In the second game, Sica (3-2) was in command early and no-hit the Eagles through the first 5 2/3 innings. He retired 16 of the first 18 batters he faced, allowing only a pair of walks during the stretch, before Juniata leadoff hitter Try Vickers smacked a two-out single in the sixth for the Eagles' first hit of the game.
 
In the meantime, the Rangers provided Sica with more than enough run support in the third, scoring five times on four hits, including a two-run triple from Gallagher and a bases-clearing double from freshman Jordan Delude. Drew tacked on three more runs in the fourth to make it an 8-0 game.
 
Juniata scored on unearned run in the seventh before Sica closed out his day with a scoreless eighth, marking his longest outing of the season. He struck out four and walked two.
 
The Rangers outhit Juniata 12-4, and Bisaccia, Gallagher, Tetto, Delude, and junior Griffin Shenman smacked two hits apiece in the second game.     
 
All six seniors entered the second game, including Tobia, who retired the first two batters in the top of the ninth, and Johnson, who recorded the final out.