THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (March 9, 2015) – In a contest that featured an encouraging offensive output, with seven men reaching base more than once, the Drew University baseball team fell to the No. 5 ranked team in Division III California Lutheran University, 8-7, in 11 innings on Monday afternoon.
 
Freshman designated hitter Isaiah Mateo laced his first career collegiate hit, a leadoff triple in the second, en route to a 3-for-5 day at the dish. Junior shortstop Steve Kowalski gathered two hits, two stolen bases, and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot and senior center fielder Al Krause scored twice and knocked in a run on two hits.
 
The extra-inning setback on Monday was a character-defining moment for the Rangers (0-3), who rebounded valiantly after a 27-3 loss on Sunday afternoon to the perennial national powerhouse Kingsmen, who lead the competitive SCIAC with a 13-1 record.
 
"I couldn't be more proud of our guys today and their resilience in the face of adversity," said head coach Brian Hirschberg. "We talked to the guys about having a different attitude, and they did that today without hesitation. The approach was aggressive today; we attacked early and threw strikes. Our defense was outstanding, we didn't make an error, and made some fantastic plays in the field to keep us in the game."
 
After the previous afternoon's episode, the Rangers knew a large scoring output would be necessary to take down No. 5 ranked Cal Lutheran. They wasted little time as Kowalski led off the game with a walk. The Landmark Conference's reigning stolen base king swiped his second of the year, advancing, then to third on a wild pitch. Kowalski would scamper home with the Rangers' first run when Krause poked one up the middle.
 
The Rangers were on the board and threatening. When sophomore catcher Mike Miraglia drew a walk with the sacks full, the Kingsmen yanked their starter with only one-third of an inning under his belt. His replacement would retire the next two Rangers on strikes, quieting what could've been a much louder inning. Still the Rangers led by a score of 2-0 when sophomore starter Tommy Broyles took the hill.
 
Cal Lutheran countered in the bottom half of the frame when a triple to center cleared the bases, giving the Kingsmen a 3-2 lead at the end of the first.
 
Leading off the top of the second, Mateo drilled his first career hit to left field for a triple, he was then brought home on a daring no-out squeeze play that Kowalski dropped down to tie the score at 3-3. The Rangers would go on to plate three more and take a 6-3 lead.
 
"Mateo took advantage of an opportunity today and he's a tough kid," Hirschberg said of Mateo's three-hit performance. "We like that about him. He goes up and swings hard, and it worked out for him today. We're excited to see how he develops."
 
Drew's offense was clicking, with Miraglia reaching base three times and Kowalski doing Kowalski things with two bunts and two stolen bases, they and the rest of the Rangers effectively ran the brand of offense the coaching staff instilled in the team.
 
Meanwhile, Broyles was cruising and after two rough innings, had found his stride. Broyles allowed only two men to reach base over innings three, four, and five. He stumbled a bit in the sixth and after allowing a double, was pulled for sophomore southpaw Patrick Boyle after 5.1 innings. Boyle coaxed a couple of groundouts to help Drew escape with the sixth clinging to a 7-5 lead.
 
"Broyles was a competitor today," Hirschberg said. "It took him an inning or two to settle in, then he was lights out against a great hitting team. He gave us the opportunity to win the game. Boyle shut the door for him after getting out of a jam."
 
The Rangers' lead remained intact until the bottom of the 8^th. After the first two Kinsman reached, a sacrifice was laid down that flipped the lineup over. A two-run single by the Cal Lutheran leadoff man knotted up the score at 7-7 and Boyle was replaced after two solid innings of relief.
 
With Drew having managed just one hit since the 4^th, the teams headed to extra innings. Fast forward to the 11^th and two straight walks had the Kingsmen threatening. Two sacrifices later, in both the bunt and fly forms, the contest ended with Cal Lutheran on top 8-7 as the nationally ranked power improved to 13-1.
 
Drew's California trip rolls on as the Rangers seek their first victory of the year. The team will travel to Whittier College for a tilt scheduled for Tuesday, March 10 at 6:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. PT).