April 21, 2005

Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD -- Junior pitcher Andrew Bail (Chicago, IL/Latin School) allowed just four hits and two unearned runs in seven innings and the Johns Hopkins offense scratched out four runs on six hits as the Blue Jays knocked off visiting Messiah, 4-2 Thursday afternoon. Hopkins, which is 9-1 in its last 10 games, improves to 22-6, while the Falcons fall to 18-10.

The Blue Jays got all the runs they would need in the bottom of the second as they got to Messiah starter Tyler Hollenbach (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) for three runs on three hits. Freshman catcher Tony Margve (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) laced a two-run single to score Bryce Baumann (Oklahoma City, OK/Casady School) and Rob Pietroforte (Brooklyn, NY/Berkely Carroll). Baumann had opened the inning with a walk and Pietroforte singled two batters later. Freshman Jonas Fester (Syosset, NY/Syosset) later singled home junior Tim Sliker (Hamilton, NJ/The Pennington School), who had also walked, to account for the three runs. Fester added a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fifth to build the lead to 4-0.

Messiah got back in the game in the seventh with a pair of unearned runs. Bail gave up back-to-back singles to Joshua Clabaugh (Dillsburg, PA/Northern) and Robert Revercomb (Shade Gap, PA/South Huntingdon) to open the inning to set up the rally. Bail induced a grounder back to the mound that he fielded cleanly, but his throw to second to start what would have been a double play was wide. Clabaugh raced home and Revercomb advanced to third. Freshman Craig Mease (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) singled home Revercomb to trim the deficit to 4-2, but Bail was able to work out of the inning without any further damage.

Bail turned the game over to freshman Brian Duddie (San Diego, CA/Mt. Carmel) in the eighth and Duddie worked two scoreless innings to pick up the save. Messiah loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, but Duddie struck out Jared Mitterling to seal the win and earn his first save of the season.

Bail (3-2) struck out four and didn't walk a batter in his seven innings of work. Fester was the only Blue Jay to collect more than one hit as he was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored.

Hollenbach fell to 1-2 on the year as he went the distance and allowed the four runs on six hits. He also struck out four and walked four.

Johns Hopkins will return to action on Friday when the Blue Jays host Gettysburg in a key Centennial Conference game.

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