April 6, 2007

Box Score

CHESTERTOWN, MD - The Johns Hopkins baseball team used 20 hits from the offense and electrifying pitching from junior Ryan Kuhlman to power past Washington, 14-2 on Friday afternoon. The Blue Jays (16-4, 6-0 CC) won their second straight game and remain undefeated in conference play.

The game remained scoreless through the first two innings before the JHU offense came to life in the top of the third inning. With one out in the inning, junior Jonas Fester cracked a double to left field and after Washington was able to record the second out of the inning came around to score on a single from senior Rob Sanzillo. Sanzillo came around to score as junior Rob Pietroforte cracked a towering home run to center field. Pietroforte's second homer in as many days, not only cleared the center field wall but hit off the roof of one of Washington's dorms behind the baseball field. The Blue Jays were not done yet in that inning as senior Ian Christie was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a double from Lee Bolyard.

The Blue Jays posted four more runs to the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning as junior Matt Benchener reached on an error to lead off the inning and then with one out, Fester and senior Brett Izzo collected back-to-back singles. Benchener came around to score on Izzo's single. Sanzillo then stepped to the plate and stroked a three-run home run over the right field fence, his fifth of the year.

Washington College got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning as Mike DeBartolome doubled and scored on a James Tidwell single. Hopkins responded with two runs in the top of the sixth inning as Sanzillo reached on a single and scored on a Christie double. Christie scored on a Bolyard single. The Blue Jays tallied another two runs in the seventh. Senior Nick Venezia scored on a Dave Garber double and Garber scored on a single from Isaac Katz.

The Blue Jays lead 12-2 after seven innings and added two more in the ninth to make it a 14-2 finale margin.

Kuhlman threw six innings and allowed just one run while striking out four as he improved to 4-1 on the year. John Harvey took the loss for Washington after allowing eight runs in three and two thirds of an inning.

The Blue Jays offense pounded out 20 hits on the day and were led for the second straight day by the heart of the order as Sanzillo, Pietroforte and Christie went a combined 6-for-8 with six runs scored and seven RBIs hitting in the 3,4,5 spots of the order. Sanzillo was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and four RBIs while Pietroforte was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Christie was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Fester was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Hopkins returns to action tomorrow when it hosts Muhlenberg for a double-header. First pitch of game-one is set for 12:30 p.m.