March 18, 2008

Final Stats

CHANDLER, AZ - Sophomore Matt Wiegand pitched 5 1/3 innings of two run relief to help lift the #10 Johns Hopkins baseball team to a 12-7 victory over Western New England on Tuesday morning in Chandler, Arizona. Seniors Todd Emr and Nate Adelman combined with junior Ryan Biner to go 9-for-12 at the plate to help the Blue Jays (5-3) snap a three-game losing streak.

Hopkins jumped on Western New England starter Erich Geckle for four runs in the bottom of the second. Senior Tony Margve had an RBI single in the inning while Biner had a two RBI double and Adelman recorded an RBI on a ground out.

The Golden Bears got to Blue Jay starter Pat Steffee for three runs in the third inning, two of which came off a two-run home run to left field by third baseman Tony Trubia. Hopkins added another run in the bottom of the third to lead 5-3. The Golden Bears tied the game in the top of the fourth after a single from Trubia plated two.

Hopkins took the lead back for good in the bottom of the fourth after putting a four-spot on the board. Highlighting the inning for the Blue Jays was a sacrifice fly from senior Jon Solomon and RBI singles from sophomore Brian Youchak and senior Rob Pietroforte. Hopkins would add two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on RBI single from Adelman and an RBI triple from Solomon.

Leading 11-5 after five innings of play, the Blue Jays turned to Wiegand on the mound. The sophomore rightie struck out three of the first five batters he faced. He allowed just one base runner in the fifth and sixth innings and sandwiched two base hits between three strikeouts in the seventh.

Western New England did reach Wiegand for two runs in the eighth inning on a pair of doubles and a triple but that was all the Golden Bears would manage.

Hopkins would add one more run in the bottom of the eighth as Emr doubled home Pietroforte to make it a 12-7 game. Wiegand would retire the side in the top of the ninth to seal the victory for the Blue Jays.

Wiegand picked up the victory on the hill after going 5 1/3 innings and allowing just the two runs. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter in posting his first career victory. Geckle took the loss after allowing eight runs in three plus innings for Western New England.

Emr, Biner and Adelman all finished the day 3-for-4 at the plate. Emr had two RBIs and a run scored while Biner finished with two RBIs and two runs scored. Adelman contributed two RBIs and two runs scored while Pietroforte went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Senior Jonas Fester's third inning triple, extends his hit streak to 18 games dating back to last season.

The Blue Jays will be back in action on Wednesday, March 19th against Williams College. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m. MST.

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