March 18, 2010

Box Score

Mesa, AZ - The Johns Hopkins baseball team won two games today, 15-4 and 16-14, over Keene State in Mesa, AZ. The Blue Jays totaled 31 runs in the doubleheader and overcame a 13-11 deficit in the second game. The Blue Jays batted in 13 innings and scored at least one run in 12 of those innings. With the wins, Hopkins improves to 9-3 while Keene State falls 5-4.

In game one, Hopkins jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the strength of an RBI single from junior Jesse Sikorski (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) and an RBI groundout from senior John Swarr (Radnor, PA/Conestoga).

The Blue Jays added two runs in the second as senior Mike Aspegren (Newport Beach, CA/Santa Margarita) reached on a single and later scored on a frozen-rope single up the middle by senior Dave Kahn (New Hyde Park/Herricks). Kahn would later score on an RBI single by Brian Youchak (Pittsburgh, PA/Vincentian Academy).

Swarr led off the third with a triple to left center and scored on a sacrifice fly by Aspegren to put the Blue Jays ahead, 5-0, after three innings. The Blue Jays exploded for five runs in the fourth on six hits and one Owl error. Aspegren highlighted the inning with a two-RBI double.

Peter Burgio put Keene State on the board in the bottom of the fourth with a RBI single.

Senior Chris Huisman (Davidsonville, MD/Archbishop Spalding) hit a bomb home run to right field to lead off the fifth and Kahn launched a grand slam to right in the sixth to put the Blue Jays ahead, 15-1.

The Owls scored three runs in their half of the sixth on three hits. Freshman Matt Topper hit a two-RBI single to right center to score sophomore Larry Longo and freshman Zach Ford. Freshman Sean Gavin recorded an RBI with a sacrifice fly to left to score junior Vincent Ganz.

Sophomore Alex Eliopoulos (Arlington, VA/The Heights School) earned the win for Hopkins by pitching six innings and allowing three earned runs on five hits. Eliopoulos had 10 strikeouts and four walks.

Senior Jeff Raymond took the loss after pitching 3.2 innings. Raymond allowed 11 hits and 10 runs, three earned, and had four stikeouts.

The Blue Jays out-hit the Owls 19-5 in game one.

Dave Kahn went 3-for-5 in the first game with a grand slam to total five RBIs and four runs scored. Huisman was also 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs and Aspegren went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored in game one.

Game two had a crazy start as Keene State held a 13-12 lead after four innings. Hopkins scored three in the first highlighted by a two-RBI triple by sophomore Aaron Borenstein (Scottsdale, AZ/Saguaro).

The Owls scored two runs in the top of the second on a pair of RBI singles. The Blue Jays plated six runs in their half of the second on four hits and two errors. Youchak and sophomore Zach Small (Pelham Manor, NY/Pelham Memorial) each had RBIs in the inning.

Keene State answered with 10 runs in the top of the third on 10 hits and two Blue Jay errors. Ganz and sophomore Cody Callahan each had two-RBI singles in the inning. The Blue Jays scored two in the bottom of the third and trailed 12-11 after three.

Both teams added a solo run in the fourth. Sophomore Erik Bergstrom hit a sacrifice fly to score sophomore Kyle Morrill for Keene State. The Owls threatened for more but a great relay from senior Matthew Bernardi (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest) to Youchak to senior Joe Borrelli (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) caught a Keene State runner out at the plate.

Borrelli scored the run for Hopkins on an RBI single by Tim Rappazzo (Glen Arm, MD/Gilman).

The Blue Jays took a 15-13 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Sikorski hit an RBI double to score Borenstein. Sikorski then scored on a single by sophomore Sam Wernick (Dallas, TX/Dallas Jesuit College Prep). Wernick stole second and scored on the play when the catcher's throw went into centerfield.

Hopkins added a run in the sixth when Youchak singled in Bernardi to take a 16-13 lead into the seventh and final inning.

Keene State plated one run in the seventh to give Hopkins the 16-14 win.

Sophomore Ryan Scherich (Torrance, CA/Canyon) earned the win by pitching 2.2 innings in relief and allowing only one run and two hits. Scherich had two strikeouts.

Senior Mike Riley took the loss for Keene State because he was responsible for the run that gave Hopkins the lead in the fifth inning.

Keene State had 16 hits and six errors in the second game while Hopkins had 16 hits and three errors. The Blue Jays had seven stolen bases in the game. Wernick had two stolen bases and two hits in the game.

Bernardi was a great leadoff batter for Hopkins in game two, going 2-for-3 and scoring three runs. Borenstein had four hits, three RBIs and three runs scored while Sikorski was 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored.

For Keene State, Burgio had three hits and three runs scored and Callahan had three hits and four RBIs. Sophomore Kyle Morrill had three hits with two RBIs and two runs scored.

The Blue Jays return to action tomorrow at 9:30 am MT when they take on Southern Maine.