April 18, 2004

Box Score

Swarthmore, PA - Johns Hopkins scored in every inning of the opener an d pounded out 17 hits in the nightcap to sweep Swarthmore, 10-3 and 17-0, Sunday afternoon at Clothier Field.

The top-ranked Blue Jays, who improved to 30-0 overall and 15-0 in the Centennial Conference, clinched first place in the league and will host the conference tournament on May 1-2. The Garnet Tide fell to 4-17 overall and 3-12 in the league.

Hopkins go on the board in the first inning of the opener, as with two outs junior Paul Winterling (Glenelg, MD/McDonogh) walked, stole second and scored on a single to left field by junior Mike Durgala (Annandale, VA/Thomas Jefferson). The Blue Jays added a run in the second when junior Mike Spiciarich (Syosset, NY/Chaminade) reached third on an error by the Swarthmore centerfielder and scored on a ground out by senior Doug Hitchner (Haverford, PA/Episcopal Academy).

Senior Brian Morley (Tappan, NY/Don Bosco Prep) was hit by a pitch with one out in the third and moved to second when senior Carl Ippolito (Ewing, NJ/Pennington School) walked. After both runners moved up on a ground out, Spiciarich delivered a two-run single, and after he stole second, Spiciarich scored on a Hitchner single to give Hopkins a 5-0 lead.

In the fourth Winterling walked, stole second and scored on an errant pickoff attempt by Garnet Tide pitcher Matt Goldsten, and the following inning senior Craig Cetta (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) reached on an error, stole second, moved to third on a Spiciarich ground out and scored when Hitchner grounded out.

Senior Rob Morrison (Malibu, CA/Loyla), who finished the day 5-for-7, led off the sixth with a single, advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches, and scored on a single by junior Brian Harris (Longwood, FL/Lake Brantley). After Harris moved to second on a passed ball, senior David Luongo (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) plated him with a double.

The Blue Jays tacked on a final run in the seventh when sophomore Andrew Bail (Chicago, IL/Latin School), pinch-running for Hitchner who had walked, advanced to third on a double by freshman Tim Sliker (Hamilton, NJ/Pennington) and scored on a sacrifice fly by senior Brian Eberle (Frederick, MD/Urbana).

Hopkins senior Russ Berger (Owings Mills, MD/Owings Mills), who had given up just one hit entering the seventh, allowed three runs in the final inning but picked up the win to improve to 4-0 on the season.

The Blue Jays wasted little time in taking control of the second game, as Hopkins scored four runs in the first inning. Morrison singled with one out, advanced to second and third on a pair of passed balls, and after junior Eric Nigro (Randolph, NJ/Taft Prep) was hit by a pitch, scored on a single by Durgala. Sophomore Corey Gleason (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) followed with a single to score Nigro, and after Durgala scored on a ground out by sophomore Gary Rosenberg (West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield), junior Dave Montegari (West Hempstead, NY/Chaminade) singled home Gleason.

Eberle led off the second with a double and Winterling, pinch-running for Eberle, advanced to third when senior Tim Casale (West Hempstead, NY/Chaminade) reached on an error. Morrison then singled home Wintlerling, and after the runners moved up on a wild pitch, Durgala hit a sacrifice fly to plate Casale.

Rosenberg led off the third with a single, and Montegari followed with a walk. After Rosenberg advanced to third on a fly out, Montegari moved to second while Rosenberg scored on a wild pitch. After Casale was hit by a pitch, Morrison singled home Montegari to give the Blue Jays an 8-0 lead.

Montegari and Sliker each singled home two runs while Eberle knocked one in with a hit during a five-run fourth, and Hopkins added four in the fifth to close the scoring.

Sophomore Jason Thayer (Finksburg, MD/Westminster) allowed just one hit and two walks while striking out nine in six innings, while Bail threw a scoreless seventh.

Hopkins hosts Catholic Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

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