FORT PIERCE, Fl. – Drew University scored five unanswered runs in the top of the fifth inning as the Rangers beat the Wilkes University baseball team 7-3 on Saturday afternoon in Fort Pierce.

The Colonels fell to 3-2 on the season.

Neither team pushed across any runs through the first three innings before Drew broke the tie in the top of the fourth with one run on a hit-by-pitch, two walks, and one hit.

Wilkes responded in the bottom half, scoring three runs on four hits. Junior Joe Champi (Dupont, PA/Pittston) led off with a single and following a strikeout advanced to second on a single from senior Joshua Slocum (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights). Senior James Brown (Covington, PA/North Pocono) continued his hot spring with a run-scoring double, driving home Champi and advancing Slocum to third. Sophomore Keaton Allison (Aiken, SC/Aiken) stepped up next and ripped a double of his own to drive in both Slocum and Brown to give the Colonels a 3-1 lead.

The Rangers jumped back on top in the top of the fifth , scoring five runs on four hits, a hit-by-pitch, and two walks to take a 6-3 lead. Drew added the final run in the top of the seventh on one walk, a hit-by-pitch, and a hit.

Sophomore Noah Durnin (Bath, PA/Northampton) pitched the first 4.1 innings for Wilkes, surrendering three runs on two hits and five walks. Senior Chris Nixon (Swoyersville, PA/Wyoming Valley West) took his first loss of the season, throwing 1.2 innings and giving up three runs on five hits and one walk. Sophomore Ramon Bazan (Reading, PA/Reading) and freshman Matt Amaral (Taylor, PA/Riverside) pitched the final three innings.

Champi finished 3-for-4 with one run scored while Slocum (2-for-4, one run) and Allison (2-for-4, two rbi's) led the Colonels at the plate.