YAPHANK, N.Y. (March 23, 2015) – A three-run ninth inning propelled the Drew University baseball team to a come-from-behind, 5-4 victory over The United States Merchant Marine Academy in Game 3 of a Landmark Conference series on Monday evening at Baseball Heaven.
 
Back-to-back hard-hit RBI doubles by senior shortstop Steve Kowalski and freshman right fielder Ryan Sabbag tied the contest at 4-4 with one out in the top of the ninth inning, and junior first baseman Bobby Miskura delivered the game-winning RBI with two outs. Freshman reliever Joe Dahut picked up his first career win on the mound after 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, and senior closer Matthew Hunter worked around a two-out hit to record the save in the bottom of the ninth and salvage the series finale against the Mariners, who swept a Landmark doubleheader on Sunday.
 
Drew improves to 4-8 overall and 3-2 in the Landmark Conference. Merchant Marine took its first conference loss (5-1) and fall to 7-4 overall. Miskura and sophomore catcher Mike Miraglia each picked up two hits, while Kowalski went 1-for-2 with an RBI, two runs and two more stolen bases to increase his league-leading total to 10.
 
The Rangers struck first in the opening frame when Kowalski's speed led to a 1-0 lead. The senior shortstop's leadoff walk was followed by his eighth stolen base of the season, and after being balked to third, he scored on a well-placed RBI sacrifice bunt by Miskura.
 
The Mariners erased the Drew lead quickly as Jacob Sithong continued his role as the thorn in the side of the Rangers. The USMMA freshman, who was named the Landmark Conference Athlete of the Week on Monday, launched his third career home run (and third of the series) to lead off the bottom of the first and tie the game at 1-1. Four at-bats later, and after a one-out double, USMMA went ahead 2-1 after a passed ball and an error advanced a runner across the plate from second base.
 
Merchant Marine extended the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth after two hits and an RBI groundout.
 
Some sloppiness by USMMA afforded Drew its second run of the game in the top of the fifth. Sabbag scored an unearned run after leading off the inning with a hit-by-pitch, advancing to second on a wild pitch, and scoring from second after the Mariners couldn't handle a Miskura single to left field.
 
Drew sophomore starting pitcher Ryan Fitzpatrick nearly escaped a no-out, runner on third situation by getting a strikeout and sharp groundout to third, but USMMA took a 4-2 lead with a two-out, RBI single. Fitzpatrick settled down nicely on the mound, and finished with seven strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work.
 
The Rangers threatened in the top of the seventh after a leadoff walk and a subsequent Mariners error put Drew runners on first and second with one out. However, a double play and a fly out allowed Merchant Marine to escape the seventh with the 4-2 lead in tact.
 
Hunter struck out one and gave up a hit to Sithong in the bottom of the ninth, but coaxed a groundout to record the fourth save of his career.
 
The Rangers are scheduled for their home opener at Doc Young Field on Wednesday, March 25 at 3:30 p.m. against Ramapo College in non-conference action.