MADISON, N.J. – Drew built an early 4-0 lead and The University of Scranton baseball team (23-9, 12-7 Landmark) was unable to overcome the deficit in a 7-3 setback against the Rangers (20-15, 12-9 Landmark) on Wednesday at Doc Young Field in Madison.

The Rangers loaded the bases with nobody out in the first inning with a double, single and walk which led to three runs in the frame. In the top of the third, Nate Miller hit a solo shot to left field which extended the lead to 4-0.

Senior righty Thomas Plunkett (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) was dealt the loss for the Royals as he allowed four runs on five hits to go along with two walks and a strikeout in two plus innings.

Scranton fought back with three runs in the fourth as senior Jack Heineman (Abington, Pa./LaSalle College) plated a run with an RBI double and scored on junior Jake Elston's (New Milford, Conn./Canterbury School) RBI single before an error charged to Drew SS Anthony Diaz Jr. allowed a third run to score.

However, Drew plated three in the top of the fifth including a two-run double off the bat of Dallas Lorenzetti that made it a 7-3 game.

The Royals continued to battle and loaded the bases in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings but were unable to get any closer than 7-3.

Kenny Yonker registered the win for the Rangers as he scattered four hits to go along with a walk and five strikeouts over three scoreless innings of relief.

Elston (2-4, RBI, R) and Heineman (2-5, 2B, RBI, R) both recorded multi-hit games for head coach Mike Bartoletti's team.

In relief, senior righty Ryan Walsh (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Chaminade) struck out a pair over 2 2/3 scoreless IP and fellow senior righty Johnny Flannigan (Huntington, N.Y./St. Dominic) tossed a scoreless inning.

Scranton will host Moravian in a Landmark Conference series this weekend at Volpe Field beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at 12 p.m.

--ROYALS--