Junior Andrew Bail (Chicago, IL/Latin School) threw six innings of one hit ball to lead the second-ranked Blue Jays past Wheaton 13-0 in baseball action this afternoon. With the win JHU improves to 4-1 on the year, while Wheaton falls to 3-1.
Wheaton's starter, Josh Moore, retired the Blue Jays 1-2-3 in the first and second innings, but JHU exploded for four runs in the third and fourth innings to build a comfortable lead. Senior Mike Spiciarich (Syosset, NY/Chaminade) led the inning off with a single, and was followed by junior Tim Sliker (Hamilton, NJ/Pennington) and senior Paul Long (Oklahoma City, OK/Heritage Hall) who both singled. After sophomore Ian Christie (Endicott, NY/Union Endicott) drove home Spiciarich with a sacrifice fly for the Blue Jays' first run of the game, senior Paul Winterling (Glenelg, MD/McDonough) drove a 2-2 offering from Moore off the scoreboard in left field for a three run blast to give the Jays a 4-0 lead.
Hopkins struck for another four runs in the fourth inning as senior Brian Harris (Longwood, FL/Lake Brantley) and Sliker led off the inning with walks. Long then drove a ball into the right-centerfield gap for a run-scoring double, as Harris scored and Sliker advanced to third.Christie then singled to left field to drive home Sliker and Long. Christie later came around to score to increase the Blue Jays lead to 8-0 after four innings.
The Blue Jays added five more runs in the top of the eighth inning, which was highlighted by a three run home run by senior Mike Durgala (Annadale, VA/Thomas Jefferson). In scoring 13 runs, the Blue Jays pounded out 13 base hits. Hopkins has scored at least 12 runs in each of their last four games, going 4-0 over that span, and averaging just over 16 base hits per game in that span.
Winterling's third inning blast was his first of the season, and 24th of his career, moving him into a tie for second place in career home runs at Hopkins. Winterling tied with Matt Menz and trails only John Christ who slugged 35 career homeruns.
Bail was excellent in evening up his season record at 1-1, and lowering his season earned run average to 1.00 in nine innings of work. He has also struck out nine in nine innings of work.
Long was 3-for-5 on the day with three runs scored and two runs batted in, while Christie was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and three batted in. Winterling and Durgala each went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run each.
Hopkins will take on Heidelberg, who is currently ranked 23rd, at 3 pm on Wednesday.
