HOBOKEN, N.J. (April 9, 2014) – The Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team scored a 4-2 home victory over Drew University on Wednesday evening at Dobbelaar Field in non-conference action. With the win, Stevens is now 12-7 overall, while Drew falls to 8-12.

In the bottom of the second, freshman Bret Viola (Carmel, N.Y.) led off with a walk and reached third on after a sacrifice bunt from junior Ryan Mannello (Staten Island, N.Y.) and error by the Ranger defense. Viola was then thrown out at the plate after Mannello got into a rundown between first and second. A groundout moved Mannello to third, and then junior Gregg Nickels (Simpsonvile, S.C.) ripped a ground-rule double to left-center to plate Mannello which gave Stevens a 1-0 lead. Junior Marc Calleo (Bayville, N.J.) drove in Nickels with a single on a fly ball to second base that got lost in the sky for the Ducks' second run.

The clear, dusky sky continued to haunt Drew defensively in the third. Freshman Garrett Wells (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) was credited with a double to left on a high fly ball that was once again lost in the tough backdrop but Stevens could not capitalize on the opportunity.

Drew finally got on the board when Mike Di Donato led off the fifth with a solo homerun to left field to cut the Rangers' deficit to 2-1.

Calleo made a terrific hustle play in the top of the sixth to take an extra base hit away from Steve Kowalski on a bloop single to center. Kowalski tried to advance to second after the ball bounced over the head of Mannello but Calleo was there to back up the play and gunned down Kowalski at second.

The Rangers would go on to score a run in the frame to tie the ballgame at 2-2 on a pair of singles, a walk and passed ball.

Stevens threatened in the bottom of the sixth with runners on second and third but could not produce a run. Hennelly led off with a walk, reached second on a groundout and advanced to third on a single by Viola. Viola moved up to second on the throw. A fielder's choice retired Hennelly at the plate for the second out then Walters fouled out to end the inning.

Drew put two runners on the in top of the seventh but were shut down by senior Mark Poinsett (Ocean Gate, N.J.). Poinsett pitched 1.1 innings in relief to pick up his team-leading third win of the season.

Sophomore Nicholas Sieber (Shrewsbury, Mass.) drove in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh after Nickels began the stanza with a single. Nickels raced to second on a throwing error to first base by Drew's catcher on a pick-off attempt and was sacrificed over to third by Calleo. Seiber would move up to second on a delayed steal and came home on a triple to center from Hennelly, who was thrown out at home trying to record an inside-the-park homerun.

Hennelly went 2-for-3 on the evening with a double in the bottom of the first.

Senior Dan Allen (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) closed the door on Drew in the ninth for his first save of the season. Allen struck out two batters and walked one. In the eighth, sophomore Daniel McIntyre (Lakeway, Texas) tossed a perfect inning with two punch outs.

Freshman Zeph Walters (Diamond Bar, Calif.) earned the starting nod but did not factor into the decision over 5.1 innings pitched. Walters surrendered two runs (one earned) and fanned five with six hits allowed.

Stevens hosts Houghton College on Friday and Saturday for a pair of doubleheaders. Friday's double dip begins at 4 p.m. with Senior Night festivities between the two games. Saturday's home finale is slated to start at 5:30 p.m., which is also Spring Sports Day on Castle Point.

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