Box Score March 15, 2014
Box Score
FT. MYERS, FL - Freshman RHP Nick Buckingham did not allow a hit until the seventh inning, as Wooster got ahead of Hopkins 5-2 Saturday afternoon. Wooster used a three-run fifth inning to go up on the Jays and never looked back, padding the lead in the seventh and eighth innings to keep the game out of reach. Wooster improves to 4-3 with the win, while Hopkins falls to 5-2 on the season.
Neither pitcher was allowing for much offense in the game's opening innings, as junior RHP Jacob Enterlin gave up only one hit and two base runners through five. Buckingham was perfect through four, before senior Richie Carbone earned a walk at his second at bat to give JHU its first baserunner of the game. The Hopkins' bats struggled to find their way around Buckingham's pitches , as the next five batters were all retired with the Jays still hitless.
The Scots opened up the scoring in the bottom of the fifth, after an RBI double, sacrifice fly and RBI triple scored three back-to-back runs. Enterlin got out of the inning with a fly out to right field, but the Jays trailed 3-0 heading back into the dugout.
Hopkins found life in the top of the seventh as junior Colin McCarthy and senior Mike Denlinger both got on base with one out. A groundball from Carbone advanced the pair to third and second, and a wild pitch from Buckingham with two outs scored McCarthy from third. The Jays couldn't keep the rally going, as a groundout to the shortstop ended the inning.
Hopkins was able to get back with two again in the top of the eighth, after consecutive singles from junior Craig Hoelzer and freshman Brian Lin gave JHU two baserunners with one out. Senior John Maxwell notched his second RBI of the weekend with a single up the middle to make it 4-2 with two outs. A fly out to left field ended the inning and halted the Hopkins comeback attempt.
The Blue Jays had one last chance in the top of the ninth, as Carbone and sophomore Mitch Weaver both singled to get on base. With two outs, the rally didn't last as freshman RHP Michael Whitaker forced a fielder's choice grounder to end the game.
Hopkins will be back at it tomorrow afternoon with a game against UW-Platteville set to start at 4:00 pm.
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