March 9, 2011

Box Score

CHESTER, PA - The Johns Hopkins baseball team held off a ninth inning Widener rally to defeat the host Pride, 8-7, on a chilly Wednesday afternoon in Chester, PA. The Blue Jays improve to 3-0 with the win, while the Pride drop to 7-3.

Widener held the early lead after notching runs in both the first and third innings to take a 2-0 advantage. The Pride maintained a two-run advantage until the sixth inning when the Blue Jays were finally able to break through on Widener starter Jason Ferrie.

Sophomore Ryan Zakszeski (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown) led off the top of the sixth with a dribbler down the third base line that Widener third baseman Jason Brooke was unable to make a play on. Zakszeski advanced to second on a ground out by junior Aaron Borenstein (Scottsdale, AZ/Saguaro) , marking just the second Blue Jay baserunner to reach scoring position up to that point.

Senior Jesse Sikorski (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) ripped a liner up the middle to score Zakszeski, who narrowly evaded the tag at the plate by Widener catcher Dennis Hocker to put Hopkins on the board.

Zach Small (Pelham Manor, NY/Pelham Memorial) followed Sikorski's hit with a single of his own to left, before a throwing error by Ferrie allowed Sikorski to tie the game and Small to advance to third. Sophomore Jeff Lynch (Sewell, NJ/St. Joseph's Prep) then gave JHU its first lead of the contest with a grounder up the middle that didn't get through the infield, but had enough juice to allow Small to cross the plate.

The Blue Jays maintained a 3-2 lead heading into the ninth, before exploding for five runs in the final frame to seemingly break the game open for an 8-2 advantage. Senior Anthony Venditti (Export, PA/Greensburg Central Catholic) led off the ninth with a single to center field and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Kyle Neverman (Londonderry, NH/Londonderry).

Zakszeski moved to third and Venditti scored after Pride right fielder Sean Saverio misplayed Zakszeski's shot to right, while Borestein followed that with a single through the right side to score Zakzeski and give JHU a 5-2 edge. After stealing second, Borestein crossed the plate following a throwing error by Widener reliever Joe Sessa.

Small put an exclamation point on the inning soon after with a towering two-run homer that cleared the large wall in left as the Blue Jays took a commanding 8-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

The Pride wouldn't go away easily as Brooke hit a two-run shot with one out to left field to pull Widener within 8-4, while shortstop Tom Mahoney followed three batters later with a three-run bomb to left to once again make it a one run game.

Widener then loaded the bases with two outs and its cleanup hitter, left fielder Dan Sieracki, at the plate. Junior righthander Ryan Scherich (Torrance, CA/Canyon) forced Sieracki to ground out and the Blue Jays escaped with the nail-biting win.

Junior Alex Eliopoulos (2-0) picked up his second win of the season, allowing just two runs in 6 2/3 innings of work while fanning seven. Ferrie gave up three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts to fall to 1-1 on the year.

Sikorski went 3-for-5 with one RBI and two runs scored for JHU, Small posted a 2-for-5 line with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Borestein and Venditti each notched two hits for the Blue Jays.

Hopkins returns to action on Tuesday, March 15 at home against Alvernia for its final contest before its annual spring break trip to Arizona. Game time is set for 3 pm.