MARCH 27, 2002
BOB ZIADIE
MONARCH BASEBALL DROPS TWINBILL
HEARTBREAKERS TO DREW
MADISON, NJ -- Host Drew
University pushed across the game-winning runs in their final at-bats over
the course of both ends of a doubleheader as the Rangers swept the King's
College in MAC Freedom Conference action in Madison, NJ. Drew won the
first game 3-2, while capturing the nightcap 3-1. In both games,
the Rangers scored wining runs in the
bottom of the seventh inning.
In the opener, the teams were
tied 2-2 when Chris Cyriax led off the seventh with a walk. Mike Maley
then moved Cyriax to second base with a sacrifice bunt. After an infield
out, Randy Sidorski drove in Cyriax with an RBI single to secure the game
for Drew.
King's broke a scoreless tie
with two runs in the top half of the sixth inning when Jon Deroba singled
and scored on a double by Jeremy Sauers. Kyle Newberry then gave King's
its second run when he drove in Sauers with a single.
Drew countered with two in the
bottom of the sixth when Sidorski reached base on an error and moved to
second on an infield out. The Rangers cut the lead to 2-1 when Dave
DiAntonio delivered an RBI double to plate Sidorski, followed by a run
scoring single by John Tarantino to knot the score at 2-2 heading into the
final inning.
King's had an opportunity to
take the lead when Kalym DeJesus doubled and Jason Melendez singled to
give the Monarchs runners at second and third with two out failed to
score.
Chris Persak was the hard luck
loser for King's, tossing six complete innings and allowing five hits
while striking out six Rangers. He allowed three run, one which was
earned.
In the nightcap, the teams
were tied 1-1 when Monarch relief pitcher Andy French hit Brian Fisher
with one out to put the go-ahead runner on first. But Brian Evans came to
the plate and ended the contest with a dramatic two-run home run to give
the Rangers the 3-1 victory and a sweep.
King's took a 1-0 lead in the
first inning when Deroba singled and advanced to third consecutive wild
pitches by Ranger starter Morris Gargiule. The Monarch senior would then
score on a one-out infield by grounder by Sauers to give King's the early
advantage. Drew would tie the score in the fifth inning when DiAntonio
doubled and moved to third on a deep fly ball to right field. DiAntonio
would then score on Evans infield grounder to short to even the game at
1-1.
Monarch starter Bill Serafin
was solid in tossing five innings of four-hit ball while allowing just one
run. Gargiule, however, was outstanding in allowing only one hit,
Derobašs first inning single while retiring 18 of the next 20 King's
batters.
