May 15, 2008

Box Score

DANVILLE, VA - The Johns Hopkins baseball team used four runs in the top of the eighth to break a 7-7 tie and defeat Randolph-Macon 13-8 in an elimination game at the NCAA South Regional Tournament on Thursday morning. The Blue Jays (35-6) got four hits from sophomore Brian Youchak (Pittsburgh, PA/Vincentian Academy) in the contest.

With one out in the top of the seventh, senior catcher Tony Margve (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) roped a double down the left field line to plate the go-ahead run. Senior first baseman Matt Benchener (Newtown, PA/Holy Ghost Prep) followed that with his second RBI double of the game to score Margve. Senior second baseman Nate Adelman (Rewood City, CA/Menlo School) and Youchak added RBI singles in the frame to give Hopkins an 11-7 advantage.

Randolph-Macon got one of those runs back in the bottom of the seventh to make it an 11-8 game.

Hopkins got its final two runs of the game in the top of the ninth. Adelman led off with a single and moved to second on junior left fielder Dan Merzel's (Hopkinton, MA/Hopkinton) sacrifice bunt. Youchak then crushed a ball over the fence in the right center for his first road home run this season making it a 13-8 game.

Randolph-Macon got the scoring going in the bottom of the first. Charlie Hartt doubled home the first run of the contest. Hartt was then thrown out at home trying to score on Michael Wallace's single. Margve made a stellar play holding on to the throw from center field as he was involved in a collision at the plate with Hartt.

The Blue Jays took back the lead in the top of the second as Benchener's double to center field plated two runs. Hopkins added another run in the top of the third on an RBI single from senior third baseman Todd Emr (Westwood, NJ/Saddle River Day).

Hopkins extended its lead to 6-1 with three more runs in the top of the fourth. The big hit in the inning came off the bat of Emr who singled through the right side to plate two. Senior center fielder Rob Pietroforte (Brooklyn, NY/Berkeley Carroll) added a sacrifice fly in the frame.

Pietroforte's triple in the sixth inning not only plated another run for the Blue Jays but also gave him the JHU career triples record with 14. Pietroforte had been tied with Tom Finegan for first in that category entering play.

The Yellow Jackets tied the game with five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Greg Meleski had an RBI single to center field to score two. Wallace had an RBI double to score two more runs in that inning. Merzel made a stellar diving catch in foul territory for one of the outs in the inning.

Senior Ryan Kealy (Ardsley, NY/Ardsley) picked up his fifth win of the season as he threw 1.1 innings and allowed just one run. Senior Ryan Kuhlman (Hicksville, NY/Bethpage) threw two scoreless innings to close out the contest for the Blue Jays.

Matt Tiller took the loss for Randolph-Macon after allowing five runs in his 2.1 innings of work.

Hopkins got good production from the top and bottom of the line-up in the contest. The Blue Jays also broke the JHU single-season doubles as they now have 130 two-baggers on the year. Youchak, Pietroforte and Emr combined to go 8-for-12 with eight RBIs and four runs scodred. Youchak was 4-for-4 with three RBIs, four runs scored and two walks. Pietroforte and Emr were each 2-for-4, knocking in two and three runs respectively. The seven, eight and nine hitters were a combined 7-for-15 with five runs scored and five RBIs. Margve was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI while Benchener was 2-for-5 with three RBIs and one scored. Adelman was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Hopkins will return to action on Friday, May 16 in an elimination game at 3 p.m. The Blue Jays will face Piedmont, who defeated Salisbury in the 3 p.m. game on Thursday.

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