BALTIMORE, MD – The Johns Hopkins baseball team took a 4-3 lead into the ninth inning in their highly-anticipated contest against fifth-ranked Salisbury Sunday afternoon, but were unable to hold on for the win in an 8-4 loss at home.
The first half of Sunday's game was all Seagulls (8-3), with Salisbury tacking on a trio of runs in the first, third and fourth innings on five hits while the Blue Jays (4-3) were held without a hit through five.
Momentum finally shifted in the sixth where, after
William Boneno tossed a quick 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts, Hopkins rallied to tie the game at three.
Isaiah Winikur sent a pitch back up the middle for the Blue Jays' first hit of the game, followed by singles from
Matthew Cooper and
Dillon Souvignier to load the bases with one out.
Following an infield fly,
Lukas Geer stepped up to the plate with Hopkins down to its final out of the frame and ripped a double to left center to clear the bases and level the score at 3-3.
Boneno continued to shut down the Seagulls on the mound, allowing just one hit in the next two innings and giving the Blue Jays a chance to take their first lead of the game in the bottom of the eighth.
Jimmy Stevens got the rally started with a single to left, advancing to third after
Caleb Cyr lined a double down the left field line to put two in scoring position. Held hitless to that points,
Shawn Steuerer would not be denied a fourth time, splitting the third baseman and shortstop to score Stevens and put Hopkins up 4-3. Hopeful to build their lead against a tough Salisbury side, Cyr was sent home but caught at home on an impressive throw from left to end the inning.
Salisbury showed why it was the No. 2 team in the country entering the season, rattling off five hits and a walk on its first six at bats against Boneno and
Kieren Collins to fly back in front 8-4, with
Cole Jefferson forcing a double play and striking out the Seagull's ninth batter of the inning to stop the bleeding.
Alex Shane opened the bottom of the ninth with a single but was retired on the next at-bat after
Dylan Whitney hit into a double play, with a long ball to left field by Winikur that the wind kept in play ending the game and handing the Blue Jays the 8-4 loss.
Next up for Hopkins is a matchup with Cairn Monday, March 11, with first pitch set for 3:30 p.m.
Inside the Box Score – Johns Hopkins
• Boneno looked strong to start his appearance in Sunday's contest, allowing just one hit in his first three innings of work before allowing three runs in the ninth, resulting in the sophomore's first collegiate loss.
• Cooper went 1-3 on the day, extending his hitting streak to seven games to start the season. He is the only Blue Jays starter to have at least one hit in every game in 2024.
• Making his second straight start as the DH, Geer went 1-4 with a team-best three RBIs. The sophomore is 5-10 on the year and shares the team lead in RBIs with six thus far.
