BALTIMORE, MD – The top-ranked Johns Hopkins baseball team used a seven-run third to launch the Blue Jays into the NCAA Super Regional for the third-straight year with an overwhelming 17-5 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Sunday morning at Babb Field.
Starting Pitcher
Drew Grumbles struggled early, allowing RPI to score the game's first run in the first frame. However, Hopkins (42-3) didn't trail for long, as the Blue Jays took the lead, 2-1, in the bottom of the first.
Alex Shane tied the game at 1-1 with a homer, followed by
Dillon Souvignier driving in
Shawn Steuerer on a single up the middle.
In the highly contested matchup, RPI (31-16) tied the game at 2-2 in the second on a single, after Grumbles walked two to load the bases. The sophomore, however, inducing an inning-ending double play to escape the bases-loaded jam.
From that point forward, it was all Hopkins. The Blue Jays plated seven runs in the third, followed by three in the fourth, to extend the lead to 12-2.
Caleb Cyr jump started the rally as he singled in Shane. Back-to-back-to-back doubles from Stevens,
Jacob Harris and
Lukas Geer plated an additional four runs, extending the lead to 8-2. Not done yet, a fielding error by the Engineers' left fielder allowed Geer to score Hopkins' ninth run. An inning later, Geer launched a three-run home run, extending the lead to 12-2.
The Jays pitching struggles reappeared in the fifth as reliever
William Boneno walked in a run with the bases loaded.
Cole Jefferson, who ultimately earned the win, relieved Boneno. However, before the inning was over, RPI plated a pair of runs to cut the lead to seven.
Hopkins then piled on an additional five runs as Stevens hit his first of two homers in the sixth. The graduate student then launched a three-run home run – second of the game – in the eighth, followed by a pinch-hit double from
Jimmy Nunez, driving in Harris, extending the lead to 17-5.
Jefferson earned his fifth win of the season tossing 3.0 scoreless innings, surrendering two hits, one walk and a hit batter, while striking out two.
Tyler Sugrim and
Grant Meert worked the final two innings – one each – with Meert striking out the side, moving Hopkins into the NCAA Super Regional.
Johns Hopkins will play Case Western Reserve University in a best-of-three series starting Friday, May 23 in the 2025 NCAA Super Regional.
Inside the Box Score – Johns Hopkins
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Jimmy Stevens (5) and
Lukas Geer (4) accounted for nine of the Blue Jays' 17 runs, with Stevens going 3-for-5 with two home runs and a double, while Geer batted 2-for-4 with a home run and double.
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Cole Jefferson improved to 5-0 on the season with 3.0 scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits, one walk and a hit batter.
• Since 2019, Johns Hopkins is 12-0 in NCAA Regional games played at home.
• In their last 17 games in the NCAA Regional (also dating back to 2019), the Blue Jays have scored 10 or more runs 11 times in 17 games.
Gallery: (5-18-2025) Baseball vs. RPI (NCAA Reg. Title Game)
