April 6, 2008

Box Score

ALLENTOWN, PA - The #21 Johns Hopkins baseball team saw its 13-game win streak come to an end with a doubleheader split at Muhlenberg on Sunday afternoon. The Blue Jays (17-4, 6-1 CC) captured game-one by a 7-6 score before falling in the night cap 8-5.

The Blue Jays wasted little time in getting their offense going in game-one. In the top of the first, senior center fielder Rob Pietroforte (Brooklyn, NY/Berkeley Carroll) roped a one-out double to right field to score senior left fielder Jon Solomon (Fairfax, VA/Riverdale Baptist) who had opened the game with a walk. Senior third baseman Todd Emr (Westwood, NJ/Saddle River Day) had an RBI single in the frame and also scored a run.

Hopkins led 3-0 and junior Chez Angeloni (Jenkintown, PA/La Salle University HS) was cruising on the mound as he did not allow a Mule base runner through the first 4.1 innings of action.

The Blue Jays added to their lead with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Muhlenberg finally reached Angeloni for three runs in the bottom of the sixth. With one out in the inning, the Mules got back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second, their first threat of the contest. After Angeloni got the second out of the inning, Christian Conti ripped a triple to right field to score both runners. He would also cross the plate in the inning on a single from Edward Risener.

Hopkins would pick up two more runs in the top of the seventh as senior catcher Tony Margve (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) had a two-run single. Margve's hit, his fourth of the day, gave the Blue Jays a 7-3 lead heading to the bottom of the seventh.

After the first three batters of the inning reached including Dan Fisher who had an RBI single, Angeloni was replaced on the hill by senior reliever Ryan Kealy (Ardsley, NY/Ardsley). Kealy got the first out of the inning on a strikeout. After the Mules reloaded the bases with a single, Kealy recorded the second out of the frame also on a strikeout. Muhlenberg wasn't done though as Conti came through with a two-run single to make it a 7-6 game. Kealy was able to buckle down after that and get the third out by striking out the side.

Angeloni picked up the game-one win, his third of the season, after going six innings surrendering six runs, striking out six and walking just one. Phil Cresta took the loss for Muhlenberg, throwing all seven innings and surrendering all seven runs. Kealy picked up the save, his second of the season.

Game-two looked to be starting out much of the same for the Blue Jays as Pietroforte blasted a two-run homer to centerfield and the visitors had an early 2-0 lead.

Muhlenberg got things going in the bottom of the first as the first five batters of the inning reached base against Blue Jay starter Ryan Kuhlman (Hicksville, NY/Bethpage). John Kalis had a two-run triple to highlight the early action for the Mules. In all the Mules tallied five first-inning runs on four hits and two Hopkins errors.

The Mules would add to their lead with single runs in the second and fourth innings for a 7-2 advantage.

Hopkins attempted a come-back with three runs in the fifth inning. Sophomore right fielder Brian Youchak (Pittsburgh, PA/Vincentian Academy) had an RBI single in the frame for the Blue Jays.

Muhlenberg would add one more run in the fifth inning and claimed the 8-5 victory, snapping Hopkins' 13-game win streak in the process.

Matthew Ordog picked up the win with 8.2 innings of solid work, holding the Blue Jays to just five runs. Kuhlman took the loss for the Blue Jays after going four innings and surrendering seven runs. Joseph Barrese recorded the save after getting the final out in the ninth.

Margve finished 5-for-8 with two RBIs and a run scored while Pietroforte was 4-for-7 with three runs scored and four RBIs in the two games combined. All of Pietroforte's hits were for extra bases. Solomon recorded the 100th hit of his career with a third inning single in game-one. Emr extended his hit streak to 15-games in game-one before seeing it snapped in game-two.

The Blue Jays will be back in action tomorrow, April 7 when they host Washington College in a Centennial Conference contest. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.

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