|
| Brian Hirschberg needed six seasons to reach the 100 win mark for Drew. Drew athletics photo |
MADISON, N.J. (April 5, 2017) – The Drew University baseball team scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to come from behind and defeat St. Joseph's College–Brooklyn, 6-5, in a non-conference game at Doc Young Field on Wednesday afternoon.
The win marked No. 100 in head coach Brian Hirschberg's career at Drew. Hirschberg is in his sixth season at the helm of the Rangers.
By the Numbers: Drew improves to 12-6 overall and 4-5 at The Doc, while the Bears fall to 7-7 overall and 3-7 on the road.
Top Performers
• Once the Rangers took the lead in the sixth, it was up to senior closer Tommy Broyles to shut the door on Drew's 12th win. He did that and earned his second save of the season with two scoreless innings with three hits, no walks and three strikeouts. Broyles has now pitched 14.1 innings this season without allowing a run.
• Normally known for his power, senior catcher Mike Miraglia used small ball to tie the game in the sixth. With runners on first and third and one out, Miraglia laid down a bunt and almost beat out a single, but settled with a sacrifice and RBI as the Rangers tied the game at 5-5. He was 1-for-3 with a double and a walk on Wednesday.
• Junior center fielder Ryan Sabbag drew a bases-loaded walk for the go-ahead run in the sixth. He finished the day 1-for-2 with two walks and that RBI.
The Difference: In the fateful sixth, senior catcher Dan Pfefferkorn's hustle set the stage for the game-tying run. He reached base on a well-placed bunt single and turned on the burners to reach second following an error on the play. He made his way to third on a wild pitch that didn't escape too far from the St. Joe's catcher, but Pfefferkorn's reaction and speed put him in position to score.
Highlights
• Freshman pitcher Pete Violante earned the win on the mound and improved to 2-2 with five innings in relief. He scattered four hits and two walks over that span with three strikeouts.
• Senior pitcher Patrick Boyle started on a limited pitch count, throwing the first two innings and allowing an unearned run on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts.
• Drew's first two runs crossed the plate on Bear miscues, a wild pitch scored Miraglia after he hits a one-out double to the left field hedges in the first. The Rangers then took a 2-1 lead in the third on a field error.
• St. Joe's took the lead back in the fifth on a three-run home run to right field.
• Senior right fielder Mike DiDonato lined a sacrifice fly to left field to bring Drew within one run, down 5-4 in the sixth before Miraglia and Sabbag's RBIs.
Up Next: The Rangers resume Landmark Conference competition on the road at Juniata College on Saturday, April 8 with a doubleheader set to begin at 1:00 p.m.