Box Score March 22, 2011
Box Score
PHOENIX, AZ - Elmhurst recorded all four of its runs in the opening two innings and held on for a 4-3 victory over the 12th-ranked Johns Hopkins baseball team on Tuesday in Phoenix, AZ. JHU falls to 6-5 on the year, while Elmhurst improves to 6-1. The loss marks the third one-run defeat for Hopkins in its last five games.
Hopkins out-hit Elmhurst, 11-9, but failed to place any runners in scoring position over the final five innings to fall for the fourth time in its last five contests. Elmhurst jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after 1.5 innings of play, before JHU added two runs of its own in the bottom half of the second inning to cut the Elmhurst lead in half.
Sophomore Kyle Neverman was instrumental in bringing Hopkins back into the game for the second straight day as he led off the second inning with a double to left center field. Freshman Mike Denlinger came to the plate next and delivered an RBI double in his first career at-bat to make the score 4-1, before sophomore Ryan Zakszeski brought home Denlinger with a single to right center to trim the Elmhurst advantage to 4-2.
Both sides held each other scoreless in the third inning, before JHU notched what would prove to be the game's final run in the bottom of the fourth. Neverman again doubled to left field to lead off the inning and made his way to third after Denlinger notched his second hit of the day with a single to right. Neverman then crossed the plate for the second time after a Hopkins groundout to the right side of the infield.
Despite falling into a four-run hole in the early stages of the game, Hopkins remained within reach due to strong performances from each of its relief pitchers. Junior Mike Berliner, junior Sam Eagleson, sophomore AJ Hellow and junior Ryan Scherich shutout Elmhurst while combining for nine strikeouts over the course of eight innings on the mound.
Sophomore Brian Marquis tossed a complete game for Elmhurst to earn his second win of the year and move to 2-0. Marquis recorded four strikeouts and no walks on his way to the complete-game win. Junior Garrett Gomez takes the loss for Hopkins and is now 0-1 on the season.
Neverman upped his team-best batting average to .417 with his third straight three-hit performance (3-for-4) with two runs scored. Denlinger, sophomore Matt Ricci and Zakszeski each added two hits apiece for JHU in the loss.
Hopkins will play its final contest of the RussMatt Greater Phoenix Invitational on Wednesday, March 23 against Thomas at 8:30 am.
