BALTIMORE, MD – The No. 2/2 Johns Hopkins baseball team completed a series sweep of Wesleyan with an 11-1 victory in game three on Saturday afternoon at Babb Field at Stromberg Stadium. The Blue Jays scored 10 unanswered runs to improve to 16-4 on the season.
Starting pitcher
Kieren Collins set the tone early, retiring the Cardinals in order in the top of the first inning. Hopkins wasted little time getting on the board, as
Luke Baker—batting second—launched his first collegiate home run in the bottom half to give the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead.
Wesleyan answered in the third inning, using an RBI groundout to even the score at 1-1.
The Blue Jays responded emphatically, scoring 10 unanswered runs across the fourth, fifth and seventh innings to put the game out of reach.
Clay Hartje sparked the fourth inning with a leadoff walk, and
William Jaun followed with a towering two-run home run to University Parkway to give Hopkins a 3-1 advantage. Later in the inning,
Shane Keough lined a double down the right-field line to drive in another run and extend the lead to 4-1.
Wesleyan threatened in the fifth, but
Cole Jefferson entered in relief and halted the momentum, retiring the final two batters of the inning. The Blue Jays capitalized in the bottom half, as
Lukas Geer put the ball in play and forced a defensive error that brought home two runs, pushing the lead to 6-1.
Hopkins continued to add on in the seventh. After
Michael Yousef recorded the final out of the top half, Hartje led off the bottom with a two-run home run to make it 8-1. With the bases loaded later in the inning,
Damian Brown drew a walk to force in a run, and
Aidan Collins followed with a two-run single to right, capping the scoring at 11-1.
Connor Henk closed out the game, recording the final three outs to secure the victory.
Hopkins returns to action on Tuesday, March 24, traveling to Annville, PA to face Lebanon Valley in its final game before conference play. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
Inside the Box Score – Johns Hopkins
• Jefferson (2-1) earned the win with 2.1 hitless innings, allowing two walks while striking out two.
• Jaun led the offense, going 4-for-5 with a two-run home run. Baker also hit his first collegiate home run in the first inning.
• Baker has reached base safely in 15 consecutive games and is currently on a nine-game hitting streak.
• Hopkins has hit multiple home runs in 10 of its 20 games this season and at least one in 16.
• The Blue Jays have scored three or more runs in 34 different innings through 20 games.
