May 2, 2008

Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD - Junior right-hander Chez Angeloni (Jenkintown, PA/La Salle University HS) allowed just one run while throwing a complete game to lead the #13 Johns Hopkins baseball team to a 9-1 victory over Muhlenberg in the first round of Centennial Conference Tournament play on Friday. The Blue Jays (31-5) got six RBIs from senior left fielder Jon Solomon (Fairfax, VA/Riverdale Baptist) as they advanced to the winner's bracket of the tournament.

Angeloni allowed back-to-back singles to the Mules to start the contest. After the Blue Jays got the first out, Edward Risener singled to center field to give Muhlenberg a 1-0 lead. Angeloni and the Blue Jays were able to get out of the inning allowing just the one run.

Hopkins went to work in the bottom of the first as senior center fielder Rob Pietroforte (Brooklyn, NY/Berkeley Carroll) doubled to right field and scored on a double from senior third baseman Todd Emr (Westwood, NJ/Saddle River Day).

The Blue Jays grabbed the lead in the bottom of the fourth with four runs in the frame. Senior shortstop Nate Adelman (Redwood City, CA/Menlo School) and Solomon each had RBI doubles in the frame while sophomore right fielder Brian Youchak (Pittsburgh, PA/Vincentian Academy) had an RBI single.

Hopkins would add to its lead with a single run in the sixth inning to hold a 6-1 advantage. The Blue Jays would get their final three runs of the contest in the bottom of the eighth. After Muhlenberg got the first out of the inning, Phil Cresta surrendered back-to-back walks, the first two of the game by either pitcher. Solomon then crushed a ball over the fence in right field for the 9-1 lead.

Angeloni dominated the Mules' line-up over the final eight innings of play. He allowed three of the six Mules hits and the lone run in the first inning. From the second inning on Angeloni faced just 26 batters, two over the minimum. He scattered three hits and one walk over the final eight innings while striking out six batters. Angeloni moves to 6-0 on the year with the victory.

Cresta took the loss for Muhlenberg as he went all eight innings and surrendered nine runs, eight of which were earned.

Solomon finished the day 3-for-5 out of the leadoff spot with the six RBIs and two runs scored. The Blue Jays' eight and nine hitters combined to go 4-for-5 with five runs scored and one RBI. Junior second baseman Dan Merzel (Hopkinton, MA/Hopkinton) was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and also recorded 10 assists at second. Adelman was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and one RBI. Pietroforte and Emr extended their hit streaks to 23 and 15 games, respectively with two hits apiece on the day.

Hopkins returns to action on Saturday, May 3 when it hosts Franklin & Marshall at 9 a.m. in the winner's bracket. The winner of that game will advance to Sunday's championship. Muhlenberg will face Haverford at 12:30 p.m. in a fight to avoid elimination.

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