MADISON, N.J. - The Drew University baseball team's 2020 season began with tremendous promise before it ended prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Rangers defeated several high-caliber programs, including a pair of impressive wins to open the season, thanks to some outstanding pitching performances. Drew started the year with a 3-2 victory over Alvernia followed by a 3-1 upset at Kean, ranked fifth in Division III by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. The team would play two more games in New Jersey before going 3-3 during its Spring Break trip to Florida, closing out the year with a 5-5 record.

"Even though our season was shortened, we showed a lot of growth and development," said second-year Head Coach John Fugett. "I am incredibly proud and fortunate to get to work with this senior class. Each player left a positive mark on the program. And I am very excited for the future - our younger players showed so much in our 10 games. Each of them showed what it means to be a Ranger."

The Rangers returned a pair of All-Landmark Conference pitchers from last season in Jeff Serin and Pete Violante, and the seniors backed up that recognition with several stellar outings. Serin was tremendous in both of his starts and finished 1-0 with a spotless ERA, striking out 22 batters over 12 innings. In his top performance, he fired five scoreless innings and struck out nine in the team's win over Kean, earning him both Landmark Conference Pitcher of the Week and D3baseball.com Team of the Week honors.

Violante was impressive over four starts, going 2-0 with a 3.15 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP while fanning 21 over 20 innings of work. He picked up six-inning victories over both Alvernia and Kenyon and struck out 15 batters over his last two starts.

Out of the bullpen, sophomore Teddy Hoxie and senior Brandon Radd were bright spots for the Rangers. Hoxie recorded a save in each of the team's first two wins and finished with nine strikeouts over 8 2/3 innings. Radd hurled 9 2/3 innings of relief without allowing an earned run and finished with seven K's.

Offensively, the Rangers posted a number of strong performances and scored nine or more runs in three of their last four games, including a 23-hit showing in a 15-4 win over Northland.

Of players who appeared in every game, senior second baseman Bryan Reagle was the team's leading hitter, batting .343 with four doubles and tying for the team lead with nine runs scored. Senior centerfielder Max Felsenstein, an All-Landmark Conference performer last season, hit .318 and led the squad with 10 RBIs, primarily out of the leadoff spot. He posted a tremendous performance versus Northland, going 5-for-6 with three runs, four RBIs, two doubles, and two stolen bases. Junior shortstop Cole Bosch and senior first baseman Matthew Lange each batted .289 while senior leftfielder Jon Cocchio was close behind at .286.

A pair of freshmen put up some big numbers in the latter portion of the season, including Jake Welsh, who batted .579 (11-for-19) over four starts at DH to end the season. Matthew Kroll also made a stellar debut, hitting .462 with seven RBIs over seven starts at third base. In addition, senior catcher Brent Lincoln batted .333 over six games and four starts.

For the second year in a row, the team will bid farewell to a large senior class, as 13 Rangers are set to graduate. Check back on drewrangers.com for a more in-depth look at this group.