WINTER HAVEN, FL – The No. 2-ranked Johns Hopkins baseball team faced Salem State University (3-6) in the final game of their spring break, Saturday morning, defeating the Vikings 6-2. The Blue Jay pitching staff controlled the plate, combining to throw 15 strikeouts in the victory, tying their season high.
 
Conner Henk struggled to find command of his fastball in the first inning, walking the bases loaded, allowing both runs to score on consecutive wild pitches, giving Salem State a two-run lead. However, Henk settled into the contest, striking out the side to escape the inning.
 
The Blue Jays (16-2) fired back, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom-half of the first frame to even the game at two. Caleb Cyr drove in the first run, scoring Damian Brown on a single up the middle. Hopkins manufactured the second run with help from Salem State, walking Lukas Geer with the bases loaded.
 
The Blue Jay offense plated another two runs in the very next inning, taking a 4-2 lead, with assistance from the Salem State defense. The Vikings committed a pair of errors, allowing Brown and Alex Shane to cross home. Hopkins added an insurance run in the fourth via a sacrifice fly from Dillon Souvignier, scoring Jacob Harris and a run in the seventh on a Vikings wild pitch.
 
Although Henk struggled with his command, six of the seven outs he recorded came via the strikeout. Grant Meert, in the 2.1 innings he worked, retired all seven batters he faced, collecting five strikeouts. William Boneno secured his first win of the season, moving to 1-0, tossing 1.2 innings, recording two punch outs and two walks.
 
The Blue Jays are back in action Tuesday, March 25 at Babb Field, taking on Hood College with first pitch scheduled for 3 PM.
 
Inside the Box Score – Johns Hopkins

• In his first at-bat, Cyr extended his hit streak to 11 games with a single to left field.
 
• Six different batters recorded a hit, with Brown and Bock recording multi-hit games
 
• Blue Jay pitching staff combined to throw 15 strikeouts, tying the team-high this season when Hopkins struck out 15 in a victory against Messiah.
 
• Five Hopkins' pitchers made an appearance, all recording at least one strikeout. Henk recorded 6-of-7 outs via the strikeout, with Meert retiring all seven batters he faced, collecting five punch outs.