April 18, 2014

Box Score

TOWSON, MD - With the game scoreless in the bottom of the fifth, senior Richie Carbone provided what would be the game-winning home run to give Hopkins a tight 2-0 victory over Gettysburg Friday afternoon. After freshman Conor Reynolds reached on a single down the left field line, Carbone blasted his first career shot just right of the foul pole in left field to put the Jays ahead 2-0. The runs provided the only scoring on the afternoon in the pitcher's duel, that saw sophomore Carter Burns earn his fourth win of the season. Hopkins improves to 17-11 on the year (4-5 CC), while Gettysburg drops to 26-4 (11-1 CC). The loss snaps a 23-game win streak for the Bullets, who previously topped Hopkins 4-3 on Thursday.

Offense was not easy to come by for either team throughout the game, with both pitchers making quick work of innings to bring their defense into the dugout. One of Gettysburg's best chances to score the entire afternoon came in the top of the first, after leadoff hitter Austin Davis walked to start the game. A pair of strikeouts brought senior Nate Simon to the plate for the Bullets, and a single to right field had the speedy Davis rounding third when the throw was made.

A quick snap throw from sophomore Kyle Gillen at the cutoff made it to catcher Jonathan Hettleman in time, and the senior laid on the tag to deny the score and get the Jays out of the inning.

Hopkins also had a promising look to score early, after a walk and two singles loaded the bases for Hettleman with one out. A groundball to the shortstop turned into a double play for Gettysburg, and the opportunity was gone as quickly as it had developed.

Neither team could successfully move runners around the diamond through the middle innings, and Carbone's 2 RBI homer finally broke the tie in the bottom of the fifth. The Jays couldn't keep the rally going in the inning however, as a sacrifice bunt, strikeout and groundout ended the inning with only a two-run deficit for the Bullets.

Despite the slim two run lead, Gettysburg could not find a way to manufacture runs, as Burns allowed only one hit between the sixth and seventh innings. Head coach Bob Babb called on senior RHP Zach Augustine to get the last six outs for the Jays in the top of the eighth, and the Skaneateles, NY native immediately went to work. With a man on first, Augustine forced a ground ball to turn a big 5-4-3 double play, and another groundout to short got Hopkins out of the inning.

A walk and error allowed the Bullets to get two men on with only one out in the top of the ninth, but Augustine came through against the bottom of the Gettysburg order. A lineout to second base and a pop up to Carbone at first sealed the 2-0 victory for Hopkins, and earned Augustine his second save of the season.

Hopkins will try and carry the momentum from today's win into tomorrow, when the team travels to face Ursinus in a Centennial Conference doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 12:30 pm in Collegeville, PA.

-30-