May 17, 2008

Box Score

DANVILLE, VA - Senior left fielder Jon Solomon (Fairfax, VA/Riverdale Baptist) doubled home the go ahead run as the Johns Hopkins baseball team defeated Lynchburg 7-5 on Saturday morning to advance to the NCAA South Regional Final. The Blue Jays (37-6) advance to the regional final for the second straight year.

With the game tied at 5-5 heading to the top of the ninth, senior shortstop Jonas Fester (Dallas, TX/Syosset (NY)) poked a two-out single to center field. Solomon then stroked a double to right center to score Fester. Senior catcher Tony Margve (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) then reached on an error and Solomon came home to give the Blue Jays a two-run advantage and the win.

The scoring in the contest had started with each team getting a single run in the first inning.

In the third, senior center fielder Rob Pietroforte (Brooklyn, NY/Berkeley Carroll) gave the Blue Jays a lead with a sacrifice fly. However, Lynchburg was able to answer with a run of its own in the bottom half of the frame.

Hopkins took a 3-2 lead in the fifth as Pietroforte singled home sophomore right fielder Brian Youchak (Pittsburgh, PA/Vincentian Academy).

Lynchburg took a 4-3 lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Ryan Litz had a triple to left field that scored two runs.

Hopkins went back on top 5-4 in the top of the seventh inning. Pietroforte and Fester each came through with RBI singles in the inning.

The Hornets knotted things up at 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth inning. Litz singled through the left side to give Lynchburg the tying run.

That set the stage for the Hopkins heroics in the top of the ninth. Senior Pat Steffee (Wentzville, MO/Marquette) shut Lynchburg down in the bottom of the ninth to secure the victory.

Steffee picked up his second win of the season with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief at the end of the contest. Spencer Garrett took the loss after surrendering the two ninth inning runs in his lone inning of work.

Pietroforte had a big day at the plate for the Blue Jays going 3-for-4 with four RBIs. Fester went 4-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Junior left fielder Dan Merzel (Hopkinton, MA/Hopkinton) was 3-for-5 with two runs scored out of the leadoff hole.

Hopkins will now face Salisbury at 3:45 p.m. for the NCAA South Regional Title and a trip to the College World Series.

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