March 22, 2012

Box Score

PHOENIX, AZ - Six different Blue Jays had a multi-hit day at the plate as the Johns Hopkins baseball team unloaded for 18 hits in its 8-4 victory over Williams, Thursday afternoon.

The Blue Jays, who improve to 9-5-2 on the season, scored twice in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, as the Ephs did not record a run until the Ephs scored twice in the sixth inning.

Junior Jeff Lynch broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth when the third baseman took a 1-0 offering deep over the left field fence for his first home run of the season and gave Hopkins a 1-0 lead. Classmate Chris Vonderschmidt hit a two-out double to centerfield and came around to score on an RBI single from senior Mike Musary.

Junior Kyle Neverman led off the fifth with a bunt single to third base and advanced to second on an error by the Ephs' third baseman and head's up base running. Neverman moved to third on a fly ball from classmate Mike Kanen and eventually came around to score on a double from Lynch to put the Jays up 3-0. Senior Aaron Borenstein, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning, scored the second run of the inning, and fourth of the game for Hopkins on a productive ground out from sophomore Mike Denlinger.

With two outs in the top of the sixth, junior Adam Weinersingled up the middle and stole second to move into scoring position for Neverman. Neverman singled to right field to score Weiner. During Kanen's at bat, Neverman continued his aggressive base running and stole second and came around to score on a single from Kanen up the middle. The Blue Jays led 6-0 going into the bottom of the sixth.

The Ephs' would not go quietly and put together a short-lived rally in the sixth. Ben Olivia singled home Matt Kastner for Williams' first run of the game. After Luke Pierce was hit by a pitch to load the bases, senior Blake Platt came out in relief of senior Lucas Henneman. Platt walked the very first batter he saw to allow Phil McGovern to score the Ephs' second run of the game, but was able to get Darren Hartwell to pop up in foul territory to Lynch and end the inning and leave the bases full of Ephs.

The Blue Jays got one of the runs back in the top of the seventh and one back in the top of the ninth to take a 8-2 lead. In the seventh, Lynch and Denlinger hit back-to-back singles before sophomore Richie Carboneflew out to right to move Lynch to third. The Ephs' pitcher then threw the ball away in a failed pick off attempt of Denlinger at first that allowed Lynch to cross the plate. Musary collected his second RBI-single of the game in the top of the ninth when he sent a ball into left field that allowed Lynch to come around to score his third run of the day after leading off the inning with a single to right center.

Williams would stage a late inning rally in the bottom of the ninth after the first two batters of the inning reached on a fielding error by the Blue Jay right fielder. Taylor Mondshein came around to score on a groundout from Cameron Susk before pinch-hitter Andrew Bishop doubled to left center to score Hartwell. Junior Kevin Gillenstayed cool under pressure and got Kastner to ground out to Neverman at shortstop to end the game and complete the three-inning save.

Henneman earned the win on the mound for the Blue Jays; throwing 5 2/3 strong innings of work in his first start of the season and improved to 2-1. Henneman gave up two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five Ephs. Gillen earned his first save of the season, pitching three full innings, giving up just two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out two.

Lynch and Denlinger each collected four hits on the afternoon, while Lynch was a triple away from the cycle. Neverman went 3-for-5 at the plate with an RBI and scored two runs.

Johns Hopkins returns to the diamond when the Blue Jays continue their stint in Arizona facing Concordia (WI), tomorrow, March 23. The first pitch is scheduled for 9 am MST.