• Score: #1 Johns Hopkins- 5, Franklin and Marshall- 1
• Records: JHU (38-3), F&M (26-16)
• Pitching Decision: W: Gabe Romano (9-0), L: Bijan Anvar (5-2)
• The Short Story: Gabe Romano left little room for error for the Diplomats pitching staff due to his superb performance on the mound as he pitched the first complete game for the Blue Jays this season, while punching out 10 batters to guide JHU to a 5-1 victory.

How It Happened

• The pitchers reigned supreme for both teams during the first time through the order as the score was tied at zero after three innings. F&M had a great chance to strike first in the top of the fourth with runners at second and third with one out. Gabe Romano settled in and induced a foul pop out by Patrick Cettina. He then got the next batter Andrew Fillipelli to strike out swinging to strand both runners on base.
• After not picking up a hit in the first three innings, Shawn Steuerer broke that streak with a base hit to right field. After the next two Blue Jays were set down, Caleb Cyr punished the first pitch he saw, sending it over the left field fence to break the scoreless tie. It was Cyr's 10th home run of the season.
• Johns Hopkins continued its assault in the bottom of the fifth inning after a Dillon Souvignier single up the middle. Steuerer cruised into the box and unloaded a ball over the left field fence to double the Blue Jays lead to four. The Blue Jays added their fifth and final run of the game on a balk by Thomas McLaughlin that brought in Charlie Monterrosa from third.
• The Diplomats started off the sixth with back-to-back singles that allowed them to get two runners in scoring position with no one out. It was another gut check that Romano was up for. Romano proceeded to strike out Pat Elliot on three pitches for the first out. F&M got a run on an RBI ground out from Spencer Person, but did not get the big inning they were looking for as Romano got the next batter to pop out to third to end the inning.
• Romano continued to deal during the rest of his start and held the Diplomats scoreless in the last three innings to finish off a complete game performance and push the Blue Jays on to the Centennial Conference championship tomorrow.

Inside the Box Score

• Romano's strikeout total today was a career-high for him and he tied Charlie Monterrosa for the most strikeouts in a game for the team this season.
• Shawn Steuerer's homer was his 11th of the season, which moved him into second in the conference in home runs this season.
• Romano's complete game was the first by a Johns Hopkins pitcher this season.

Of Note

• JHU set two new school and conference records today in home runs and strikeouts in a single season. The Blue Jays home runs total now sits at 85 and the pitching staff has racked up 390 strikeouts.

Up Next

• The Blue Jays will take on the winner of F&M and Dickinson tomorrow in the championship game. Johns Hopkins will need to get beaten twice to lose in the championship round. The first game will start at noon.