March 29, 2008

Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD - Head coach Bob Babb won the 800th game of his coaching career as the #21 Johns Hopkins baseball team swept a doubleheader from Swarthmore on Saturday afternoon in Baltimore. The Blue Jays (14-3, 4-0) won game one by a 12-1 score and finished off the sweep with an 18-2 victory in the nightcap to extend their win streak to 10 games.

Babb earned his 800th victory with the 12-1 win in game-one and now has a record of 801-283-10 in 29 seasons as the Hopkins head coach. He is the 12th coach in Division III history to reach the mark.

In game-one, Hopkins struck early for two runs in the first and three more in the second to take an early 5-0 lead. Highlighting the first two innings of action for the Blue Jays' was homers from senior DH Matt Benchener (Newtown, PA/Holy Ghost Prep) and senior shortstop Jonas Fester (Dallas, TX/Syosset).

Hopkins would add two more runs in the fifth inning before exploding for five runs in the bottom of the sixth. Senior center fielder Rob Pietroforte (Brooklyn, NY/Berkeley Carroll) slammed a three-run home run to left center before junior Dave Garber (Mount Joy, PA/Donegal) poked his third pinch-hit home run in the last four games to right field.

Junior Chez Angeloni (Jenkintown, PA/La Salle University HS) dominated the Garnet on the mound. Angeloni went all seven innings on the hill and carried a no-hitter into the top of the seventh inning. Back-to-back doubles to start the seventh would break up the no-no but that one run would be all Swarthmore would manage. Angeloni struck out nine and walked just one on his way to the 12-1 victory.

Hopkins continued its offensive outburst in the second game. After getting a single run in the first inning, the Blue Jays put a seven spot on the board in the bottom of the second stanza. Hopkins sent 11 men to the plate including the first seven of the inning, who reached base safely.

Swarthmore struck for two runs in the top of the third inning to make it an 8-2 game after three innings. Hopkins tallied four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it a 12-2 game. The big blow in the inning was a two RBI double from sophomore Brian Youchak (Pittsburgh, PA/Vincentian Academy).

Hopkins would add six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for its season-high in runs scored. Sophomore John Swarr (Radnor, PA/Conestoga) had an RBI double to left that scored two in the inning while fellow sophomore Brendan Walsh (La Jolla, CA/The Bishop's School) lifted his second home run of the year to left. Junior Dan Merzel (Hopkinton, MA/Hopkinton) also had a sacrifice fly in the inning.

Senior Brian Duddie (San Diego, CA/Mt. Carmel) earned the game two victory after allowing two runs in six innings and striking out four. The loss went to Ben Schneiderman who surrendered eight runs in two innings.

Hopkins had a stellar day at the plate combining for 30 runs on 28 hits including six doubles and five home runs in the two games. Fester was 3-for-7 with 4 RBIs, three runs scored and three stolen bases. He extended his hit streak to 27 games and is now just five games shy of the school record. Pietroforte finished 3-for-6 on the day with four RBIs, two runs scored and four stolen bases while Benchener went 4-for-6 with three runs scored, an RBI and two stolen bases. Senior third baseman Todd Emr (Westwood, NJ/Saddle River Day) extended his hit streak to 12 games after going 3-for-8 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Hopkins puts it win streak on the line, Tuesday April 1 at Washington College. First pitch in Chestertown, MD is set for 3:30 p.m.

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