May 6, 2007

Box Score

LANCASTER, PA - The Johns Hopkins baseball team swept Ursinus by scores of 21-4 and 16-4 to capture the Centennial Conference Title on Sunday afternoon in Lancaster. The Blue Jays (34-9) won their eighth Centennial Conference Tournament and first since 2004.

The Blue Jays entered Sunday needing to win two versus the Bears due to the tournament's double elimination format. With the scored tied at 2-2 in game one, Hopkins broke things open with a four run fourth inning. Highlighting the inning for the Blue Jays was junior shortstop Jonas Fester's bases clearing double to left field. Hopkins added two runs to its total in the top of the sixth as senior catcher Rob Sanzillo singled home junior third baseman Nate Adelman and senior right fielder Brett Izzo.

Ursinus tacked on a run in the sixth to make it an 8-3 game after six innings of play. Hopkins expanded it lead in the seventh with a seven spot. Highlighting that inning for the Blue Jays was Izzo's single that scored two runs and senior second baseman Ian Christie's double that brought three runners home. The teams traded runs in the bottom of the seventh and top of the eighth to make it a 16-4 game after eight.

Hopkins' capped the scoring in game one with five runs in the ninth inning. Freshman Brendan Walsh had a pinch-hit three run home run off the foul pole in the inning.

Sophomore Chez Angeloni (4-3) was brilliant on the mound for the Blue Jays. Angeloni threw eight innings, surrendering four runs, three of which were earned. He also struck out nine and walked just one batter. Ryan Smith took the loss for Ursinus after going four innings and giving up six runs.

Fester was one of several Blue Jays to swing a hot bat in the first game as his two doubles broke the Hopkins and Centennial Conference single season record for doubles. The old record was 21 doubles in a single season.

In game two it was the Blue Jays once again jumping out to an early lead with two runs in the first inning. In the second inning junior left fielder Jon Solomon drove a two-run home run to left field and Izzo had a double to score two, as the Blue Jays put a five spot on the board.

Hopkins led 8-0 after five innings of play. Ursinus reached Blue Jay starter Joe Zaccaria for three runs in the sixth inning. The Blue Jays answered with four runs in the top of the seventh, highlighted by Fester's three run homer. Hopkins put four more runs on the board in the eighth inning on RBI doubles from junior DH Tony Margve and Adelman.

Senior Brian DeLeo relieved Zaccaria in the ninth and allowed a run to the Bears before shutting them down and delivering the championship for the Blue Jays.

Zaccaria picked up his seventh victory of the season in game two. He (7-4) went eight strong innings allowing six hits, three runs and striking out seven. Luis Serrano took the loss for the Bears, in two innings of work he allowed seven runs.

Fester was 8-for-10 on the day with eight RBIs and five runs scored while Sanzillo was 5-for-10 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Ursinus couldn't get Izzo out in the first game as he was 3-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored, he finished the day 4-for-6 with six RBIs and five runs scored.

Hopkins returns to action on May 9th at Mary Washington. Game time on Wednesday is set for 4 p.m.

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