The Johns Hopkins baseball team split a key Centennial Conference doubleheader with the Fords of Haverford today in Haverford. The Blue Jays dropped the first game 13-8, but came back to pick up the win in the nightcap, 7-4. With the split, the Blue Jays' are now 20-6 and 8-4 in conference play while the Fords are 18-14 and 7-5 in the conference.

In the first game, the Fords jumped out to an early lead as sophomore Ben Einbinder hit a grand slam which highlighted a seven run first inning that chased Blue Jay starter junior Jason Thayer from the game. Haverford strung together seven hits in collecting the seven first inning runs.

In the top of the second, the Blue Jays began to chip away at the Fords' lead, as senior Mike Durgala blasted his fifth home run of the year to plate senior Eric Nigro, who had reached on single. Haverford responded immediately with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning off freshman Paul Martone who was called upon in relief of Thayer.

The Blue Jays tried to cut into Haverford's lead, but were unable to. Nigro homered in the fourth inning, and seniors Paul Long and Dave Montegari, junior Gary Rosenberg and sophomore Rob Sanzillo all homered in the fifth, but the Blue Jays feel short in their rally attempts, as they fell 13-8.

Eric Nigro picked up his team-leading eighth home run in the first game

Rosenberg and Nigro led Hopkins offensively as they each went 2-for-4 with a home run. Einbinder did the most damage for the Fords at the plate as he went 2-for-3 with a grand slam in the first inning, a double and five runs batted in. Junior Mike Primiani collected three hits in as many at bats for Haverford.Junior Craig Gridelli was excellent in relief for the Blue Jays going four innings allowing only two hits.

In the second game, senior Ryan McConnell threw a complete game to pick up his first win of the season. McConnell limited the Fords to only four runs over nine innings, striking out five, and at one point retired 13 batters in a row.

Haverford opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, as freshman Steve Andelman homered to give the Fords an early 1-0 lead. Hopkins tied the game in the top of the second as senior Paul Winterling led off with a single. With Winterling stealing second, senior Mike Spicairch shot a ball into right field to move Winterling to third, and with one out, the pair completed a successful double steal of second and home.

In the second, junior Tim McLean led off with a single, and then Einbinder blasted his second home run of the day to put Haverford up 3-1.

After neither team scored in the third, the Blue Jays picked up three runs in the fourth to take the lead, a lead that they would not surrender. Spiciarich led the inning off with a walk and moved to third when Montegari double to left-centerfield. Spiciarich was erased at the plate as he attempted to score on a wild pitch, but Montegari was able to move to third. Senior Brian Harris delivered a base hit to plate Montegari, and he came around to score on a ground-rule double from Long. Rosenberg then plated Long on a double to give the Blue Jays a 4-3 lead.

Paul Long homered in the first game, brining his season-total in a team-high eight

In the fifth, senior Mike Durgala, Winterling and Spiciarich reached to open the inning.Montegari walked to plate Durgala, and Harris deleivered a sacrifice fly to stretch the Blue Jay lead to 6-3.

McConnell made the Blue Jays lead stand up as he retired 13 batters in a row from the final out in the third inning until the start of the eighth inning. In the eighth, sophomore Kenny McAlpine opened the inning with a home run to trim the lead to 6-4. Hopkins responded in the top of the ninth to get the run back.Rosenberg singled to lead off, and was replaced by pinch runner junior Bryce Baumann. Baumann stole second, advanced to third on a wild pickoff attempt, and scored on a wild pitch.

In the bottom of the ninth the first two batters for Haverford reached, but McConnell retired the final three batters to pick up the win.

Nigro, Rosenberg and Winterling each went 2-for-5 in the win for the Jays, and Harris drove in two runs.McLean was 2-for-4 for Haverford, and Einbinder drove in two runs with his second home run of the day.

With the split the Blue Jays are currently 8-4 in conference play and tied for third place in the league with Gettysburg. Franklin & Marshall and Ursinus sit atop the league with identical 9-3 marks.

The Blue Jays will return to action when they travel to Gettysburg on Tuesday to battle the Bullets at 3:30 pm.