MARCH 31, 2006
DREW BASEBALL EDGES KING'S 4-3
WILKES-BARRE -- Joe Cardinale registered what proved to be a
game-winning two-run home run in the seventh inning as visiting Drew
University posted a 4-3 Freedom Conference victory over King's College
Friday at Betzler Fields.
With the win, Drew improved to 8-11 overall and 4-3 in Freedom
Conference play. King's slipped to 9-8 overall and 3-2 in league games.
Drew took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Matt Hicks singled and
later scored on an RBI base hit by Joe Henrickson.
King's would knot the score at 1-1 in the fifth inning when Jeff Wells
belted a leadoff double to the base of the centerfield fence. Wells
would move to third on an infield ground out by Josh Faust, then scored
on a sacrifice fly by J.R. Graver.
The Rangers would recapture the lead in the seventh when John Rocco
singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Hicks. Henrickson
would then deliver an RBI single to score Rocco and give Drew a 2-1
lead. Cardinale then came through with a two-run home run over the left
field fence to give the Rangers a 4-1 advantage.
The Monarchs would come back in the seventh when Jeremy Faust and Nick
Sorino led off with back-to-back singled. After Jeff Wells lined out to
center, Josh Faust followed with a single to load the bases with one
out. Graver then delivered his second sacrifice fly of the game to bring
home Jeremy Faust while Jon Venarchick added a run-scoring single to cut
the Ranger lead to 4-3. After a walk to Caleb Calarco loaded the bases,
Drew would bring in relief pitcher Jon Murelli who induced Matt Livoy to
ground out to second to end the inning.
Murelli would then retire the final six King's batters in order to
clinch the victory.
Tom Carracciolo led Drew with a 3-for-5 showing while Cardinale was
2-for-4 with two RBI. Justin Distler (2-2) picked up the pitching
victory, allowing three earned runs on nine hits with three strikeouts
in six and two-third innings. Murelli earned the save, retiring all
seven Monarch batters he faced.
Sorino paced King's with a 2-for-4 effort while Venarchick was 2-for-5.
Graver went 1-for-1 with two RBI. Paul Giovannoli dropped to 3-1 with
his first loss of the season, Giovannoli allowed four earned runs on 16
hits and struck out two batters while being aided by three King's double
plays.
King's and Drew will resume their three-game series Saturday at 12:00
noon in Madison, NJ.
