March 1, 2013

Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD -- The Johns Hopkins baseball team exploded for five runs in the third inning to take a lead it would never relinquish as it defeated Messiah, 7-3, in the season opener at the JHU Baseball Diamond.

After Chris Vonderschmidt and Adam Weiner knocked a pair of singles off of Messiah pitcher Jon Lapp, leadoff hitter Chris Wilhelm hit a single down the left field line to bring in Vonderschmidt. After two more singles by Kyle Neverman and Jeff Lynch, Mike Denlinger belted a pitch to deep right center to bring in two runs and give the Jays a 6-1 lead. Denlinger finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

It was Messiah that jumped on the board first, after Zach Brubaker scored on some nifty base running. Hopkins starting pitcher Tyler Goldstein settled down, however, and earned the win in a committee effort with three strong innings pitched.

The Blue Jays squared the game at one run apiece in the bottom of the second after Lynch led off with a double down the left field line. Lynch then scored after a Denlinger single rolled through the legs of outfielder Ben Sollenberger. Lynch went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, and advanced his hitting streak to 10 games dating back to last season.

Hopkins added a seventh run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Lynch ripped his second double of the game to bring in Wilhelm.

Messiah cut the Hopkins lead to five runs, 7-2, when designated hitter Derek Drake brought in Paul Mellinger with a double. The Jays answered the Falcons momentum by bringing in pitcher Zach Augustine, who caused Messiah to leave two base runners stranded after three consecutive outs.

Blue Jay senior catcher Ryan Zakszeski went 3-for-4 in the contest, while freshman Colin Friedman pitched three innings in his collegiate debut to earn the save.

Hopkins returns to the diamond Sunday as it hosts Oneonta for a double-header slated to begin at 12:00 pm.

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