The Basics
• Score: #17 Johns Hopkins - 6, Plymouth State - 1
• Records: JHU (9-3) • PSU (6-4)
• Pitching Decision: W – Jonah Offman (1-0) • L – Derek Walker (0-1)
• The Short Story: Johns Hopkins used outstanding pitching from Jonah Offman and a difficult defensive day from Plymouth State to pick up a 6-1 victory on Thursday. 

How it Happened
    The Blue Jays opened up their Gene Cusic Classic experience, getting six strong innings out of starter Jonah Offman in a 6-1 victory on Thursday evening in Fort Myers, FL. Offman cruised through six innings, allowing five hits and a single run while striking out six. Ben Keever and Brian Linton combined to work the final three innings, allowing just one hit and striking out five out of the bullpen. 
     JHU got on the board in the second inning. After James Ingram struck out to begin the inning, the next three Blue Jays to come to the plate reached base. Jared deFaria singled through the left side, advancing to second on a walk issued to Mike Ainsworth. With two on, Adam Kohl singled to right field, loading the bases. Plymouth State starting pitcher, Derek Walker, uncorked a wild pitch, allowing deFaria to score and give the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead. 
    In the bottom of the third, Plymouth State was able to tie things up despite Offman retiring the first two batters. Offman issued a two-out walk to lead-off hitter Jimmy Zamolka. Drew Metzdorf singled to the gap in left, bringing James Salta to the plate. Salta singled up the middle, scoring Zamolka to tie things up at 1-1. 
    The Jays wasted no time getting back out ahead of the Panthers, as Kohl hit an RBI double in the fourth to retake the lead. Ainsworth reached on an error to start the inning before Kohl doubled to left, scoring Ainsworth. After retiring Mike Eberle, the Panthers committed another error, allowing Kohl to advance to third and allowing Matthew Ritchie to reach. Gavin Cook allowed a passed ball, allowing Kohl to score for a 3-1 Blue Jay lead. The third error of the inning moved Ritchie over to third before AJ King drove him in with a sacrifice fly to give the Blue Jays a 4-1 lead through the top of the fourth. 
    After scoring three in the fourth, the Blue Jays added another run in the fifth inning. Ingram led off the inning with a double, coming home to score on an RBI base knock from deFaria. The Blue Jay lead extended to 5-1 as Offman continued to cruise. 
    Still leading 5-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Keever entered the contest out of the bullpen, striking out the side in his first inning of work. Keever allowed a base hit and a walk in the eighth, but retired the next two batters to send the game to the ninth inning. 
    The Jays added one more insurance run in the ninth inning, getting an RBI single from King to score Chris Festa. Linton came in for the ninth, going 1-2-3 in the ninth to secure a 6-1 victory, the seventh straight for JHU. 
    
    
Inside the Box Score
• The Blue Jays have won seven straight games after a 2-3 start to the season. In 2019, JHU won eight straight during a similar stretch, ranging from February 26th to March 14th. The Jays winning streak started back on February 29th with a 7-2 win over SUNY Cortland. 
• Hopkins evened up the all-time series with Plymouth State at 3-3 all-time. 
• After an 0-7 start to the season at the plate, deFaria is 4-7 with two RBI and two runs scored in his last three appearances.