BALTIMORE, MD – The No. 4-ranked Johns Hopkins baseball team squared off against Franklin and Marshall (15-9) in a Saturday afternoon doubleheader to kick off conference play. After falling short in the morning game, 7-9, they bounced back in the nightcap, securing a 5-4 victory to split the series with the Diplomats.
 
Game 1
 
Hopkins claimed the lead, plating the first run of the game in the third on a Shawn Steuerer double to left field, scoring Alex Shane. Jake Siani, with a single to center, plated an additional run in the fourth, scoring Jimmy Stevens, extending the lead to two. The Jays then loaded the bases for Steuerer, who chopped a two-run single up the middle, pushing the lead to four.
 
The Jays added more insurance in the sixth with a Jacob Harris single followed by a two-run homer from Shane, extending the lead to seven.
 
Despite being in full control, a Hopkins (19-3) defensive miscue in the sixth allowed the Diplomats to plate a run, avoiding the shutout. Ryan Anderson, in relief of Kieren Collins, allowed a two-run homer in the seventh, cutting the lead to four. He responded with an inning ending 5-4-3 double play.
 
Franklin and Marshall mounted a comeback in the eighth. With runners on the corners, Tyler Sugrim surrendered a pair of doubles, allowing the Diplomats to narrow the gap to one. A defensive lapse by the Blue Jays knotted the game at seven before Thomas Cancian recorded the final out, sending the game to the ninth.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Franklin and Marshall's Matt Hollender hit a walk-off two-run homer off Cancian, securing the win for the Diplomats.
 
Inside the Box Score – Johns Hopkins

• Kieren Collins threw a gem, tossing 6.0 innings, surrendering only three hits and a walk, while striking out five and retiring 18 of the 23 Diplomats he faced, however received a no-decision in the loss.
 
• The Blue Jay contingent of Harris (3), Shane (3), Steuerer (4) and Siani (2) combined for 12 of the 15 Hopkins hits, with Steuerer leading the charge with a game-high four hits and team-leading three RBIs.
 
• Hopkins extended a slew of hit streaks, with Harris extending his to eight, Steuerer to six and Dylan Whitney to five.
 
Game 2
 
Franklin and Marshall jumped out to an early one-run lead, scoring the game's first run on a defensive miscue by Jacob Harris. The Diplomats extended their lead to two in the third with a single. However, the Jays reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth, plating three.
 
The rally began with the first four Blue Jays reaching base. A throwing error by the Diplomats' pitcher, triggered by a Dillon Souvignier sacrifice bunt, allowed Hopkins to score its first run. Sacrifice flies from Clay Hartje and Damian Brown then gave the Jays the lead.
 
Hopkins kept the pressure on, loading the bases in the sixth for Souvignier, who delivered with a pop-up to left, scoring Harris and extending the lead to two. The Jays added an insurance run in the ninth, which proved to be the winning run, when Stevens tripled to score Souvignier, pushing the lead to three.
 
The Diplomats fought back in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases with two outs and scoring two runs on a single up the middle, cutting the lead to one. However, Grant Meert sealed the win with his second save of the season, retiring the final batter and securing the series split for Hopkins.
 
Quinn Rovner improved to 5-0 on the season, retiring 13 of the final 16 batters he faced. Despite a rocky start, where he allowed two runs in the first three innings, Rovner tossed four consecutive scoreless frames to end his outing.
 
Inside the Box Score – Johns Hopkins

• Steuerer and Stevens led the Blue Jay offense with two hits apiece, with Souvignier, Stevens, Hartje and Brown all picking up an RBI.
 
• Hopkins extended a slew of hit streaks, with Harris extending his to nine games, Steuerer to seven games and Siani to six games.
 
• Rovner secured the win, moving to 5-0 on the season, tossing 7.0 innings of work, surrendering two runs – one earned – and 10 hits. He retired the last 13-of-16 batters he faced, throwing the final four frames, scoreless. Meert earned his second save of the season, recording 2.0 innings of work, striking out four, surrendering two unearned runs on one hit and one walk.
 
The Blue Jays are back in action Sunday, March 30 at Babb Field, taking on Rutgers-Newark with first pitch scheduled for 2:30 PM.