BALTIMORE, MD – The Johns Hopkins baseball team hosted Messiah in its fourth game of the season Thursday afternoon, downing the Falcons 8-2. The Blue Jay pitching staff commanded the strike zone throughout the afternoon, with starter Drew Grumbles and relievers William Boneno and Grant Meert combining to strike out 15 of 27 batters.
 
Alex Shane opened the scoring up early on a first-inning solo shot to right center, with Caleb Cyr adding an additional run via the long-ball. Soon after, in his next at-bat, Shane delivered yet another home run which proved to be the game-winning hit.
 
Hopkins (4-0) bats stayed red-hot, adding four additional insurance runs in the seventh, on back-to-back doubles by Cyr and Dillon Souvignier.
 
Before the game was finalized, Messiah (1-6) was able to manufacture a pair of runs avoiding the shutout before Meert made an appearance, striking out both batters he faced.
 
The Blue Jays are back in action Saturday, March 1 at home with a matchup against Johnson & Wales at 2:30 PM.
 
Inside the Box Score – Johns Hopkins

• Shane hit a pair of home runs in his first two at-bats, sharing the team-lead in home runs (4) with Shawn Steuerer
 
• Three Blue Jay hitters recorded a multi-hit game: Shane, Cyr and Souvignier
 
• Grumbles was fantastic in his first start of the season striking out seven, only surrendering three hits over four innings of work
 
• Boneno followed suit, striking out six of the 10 batters he faced in three innings, seemingly not able to miss the strike zone

Inside the Box Score – Messiah

• The Falcons plated a pair of runs in the ninth, avoiding the shutout
 
• Dustin Isanogle led Messiah's offense with a pair of hits and a walk
 
• Jason Long suffered his second loss of the season, surrendering three runs to Hopkins in four innings of work