March 16, 2003

Box Score

FT. MYERS, FL - Pinch runner Kurt Kieleszewski scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Division II Wayne State (MI) a 4-3 win over Johns Hopkins in baseball action Saturday morning. Hopkins had its eight-game winning streak snapped with its first loss of the season and concluded its nine-game trip to Ft. Myers with an 8-1 record.

Kieleszewski was pinch running for Jeremy Van Dam, who singled down the left field line to lead off the bottom of the eighth. He advanced to second as a pick-off attempt went off the glove of first baseman Mike Durgala (Annandale, VA/Thomas Jefferson) and took third base on a sacrifice bunt by Steve Walker.

The Blue Jays grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning as sophomore Paul Long (Oklahoma City, OK/Heritage Hall) walked, stole second base and scored on a single to right field from junior Doug Hitchner (Haverford, PA/Episcopal Academy). Following a single by senior Jay Cieri (Pine Brook, NJ/Montville), Hitchner scored on an error by the second baseman.

The Warriors cut the margin to 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth, but Hopkins answered in the top of the sixth as sophomore Paul Winterling (Glenelg, MD/McDonogh School) singled, stole second base, advanced to third on an error by the catcher and scored on a wild pitch. Wayne State again cut the margin to one at 3-2 as Adwin Springer reached on an error, stole second and third base, and scored on a passed ball. The Warriors then tied the game in the bottom of the seventh following a walk, a stolen base, a bunt and a sacrifice fly to center field.

Junior Sven Stafford (Evanston, IL/Evanston) took the loss despite an outstanding effort in his first career start. Stafford (1-1) went the distance and allowed just four hits and one walk, while striking out eight batters. He struck out five straight batters during the second and third innings and retired the first nine batters of the game.

The Blue Jays return to action Tuesday as Hopkins plays host Widener University at 3:00 p.m.