April 12, 2014

Box Score

WESTMINSTER, MD - A pair of strong starting pitching performances from sophomore Carter Burns and junior Jacob Enterlin in addition to a standout day at the plate from sophomore Raul Shah helped Hopkins clinch two victories (8-4, 5-3) against Swarthmore Saturday afternoon. Shah was 5-for-6 in the doubleheader with two home runs and three RBIs, while Burns and Enterlin combined for 18 strikeouts on 17.0 innings pitched. Hopkins improves to 16-9 on the year and 4-5 in the Centennial with the wins, while Swarthmore drops to 14-13 (3-7).

Note: Games were played at McDaniel College due to construction of the new JHU baseball diamond at Homewood.

Game 1 (JHU 8, SWA 4)

Sophomore Carter Burns turned in his most impressive performance of the season, pitching a complete game with a career-high 13 strikeouts in an 8-4 Hopkins victory in game one. The Winter Park, FL native had run support from the Blue Jay offense, led by senior Mike Denlinger and Shah who combined for six hits and four runs. Burns's 13 K's is tied for the fifth most ever in a nine inning game by a Hopkins pitcher, and is the most strikeouts by a Blue Jay since Marco Simmons retired 13 in 2009.

JHU got the afternoon started in the bottom of the second, after Denlinger singled and sophomore Kyle Gillen ripped a double to left field to get two men on with no outs. A balk from freshman LHP Brian Gibbs scored Denlinger from third, and a sacrifice fly from senior Richie Carbone brought Gillen in to give the Jays an early 2-0 advantage.

An RBI single from junior Craig Hoelzer tacked on another run in the bottom of the third, before the Garnet were able to answer back in the fourth. A home run from sophomore John Lim became the first long ball surrendered by a Hopkins pitcher all season, and brought Swarthmore within one before two ground outs and a fly out got the Jays out of the inning.

Hopkins didn't flinch in the bottom of the fourth, using three doubles and a single to bring in four runs and go up 7-2 on the Garnet. Sophomore Mitch Weaver, senior Jonathan Hettleman and Shah all tallied RBIs in the inning, giving the Jays plenty of breathing room heading into the fifth.

Swarthmore came within three after bringing in runs in the fifth in seventh, but a bases empty blast to left field from Shah put Hopkins up by four again. Burns remained in control down the stretch, and a lineout double play from freshman shortstop Conor Reynolds ended the game to seal the 8-4 victory for Hopkins.

Game 2 (JHU 5, SWA 3)

Junior Thomas Harper used three strikeouts in the top of the ninth to get out a bases loaded jam and secure a tight 5-3 victory for Hopkins in the day's second game. Harper earned his third save of the year, while Enterlin notched his third win on the season and allowed no earned runs in 8.0 innings of work.

Head coach Bob Babb called on Harper to close things out after a leadoff single from senior Nicko Burnett gave Swarthmore a runner with no outs in the top of the ninth. After Harper walked his first batter, the Villanova, PA native struck out the next two batters to put Hopkins one out away from the sweep.

A fielding error allowed junior Brian Kaissi to reach and load the bases, and a walk from junior Zach Powell in his ensuing at bat cut the Hopkins lead to 5-3 with two outs. Harper didn't skip a beat, striking out the final batter he faced to end the game.

The Jays were able to get up early on the Garnet again in game two, after junior Colin McCarthy and Denlinger brought in runs to give their team a 2-0 lead in the first. Swarthmore was able to tie things up in the fourth, scoring two runs on three hits and an error to lock the teams at 2-2.

Shah stepped up again for Hopkins in the bottom of the seventh, launching his second solo shot of the day to left field with two outs to put the Jays ahead 3-2. JHU was able to add two important insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, as Denlinger and Carbone knocked in runs to put their squad ahead 5-2 before Harper closed things out.

Hopkins will get a much needed day off tomorrow, before facing Widener in a nonconference road contest at 3:30 pm on Monday, April 14.

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