BALTIMORE, MD – The eighth-ranked Johns Hopkins baseball team rode an early five-run cushion to victory on Friday afternoon, defeating Pfeiffer, 9-6, in the opening game of the 2026 NCAA Baltimore Regional at Babb Field at Stromberg Stadium. With the win, the Blue Jays improve to 34-9 and advance in the winner's bracket.
Seeking stability on the mound for the tournament opener, Hopkins turned to veteran
Kieren Collins. Aside from a pair of home runs that accounted for five of Pfeiffer's runs, Collins delivered a masterful start, allowing the Blue Jays' offense time to build an early 5-0 lead.
Collins was dominant early, retiring 11 of the first 13 batters he faced. After two scoreless frames,
Luke Baker ignited the offense in the bottom of the third with a leadoff solo home run. The Blue Jays broke the game open with a four-run fourth, highlighted by a
Shane Keough two-run homer, a
Jacob Harris RBI double, and an
Alex Shane RBI fielder's choice.
The Falcons finally broke through in the fifth. With two runners aboard,
Tony Mejias launched a three-run blast to cut the deficit to 5-3.
Hopkins answered immediately in the bottom of the frame. Carrying over his hot streak from the Centennial Conference tournament,
Clay Hartje belted a two-run home run to stretch the lead back to 7-3. The Blue Jays threatened to add more, but Mejias made a spectacular diving catch at third to turn an inning-ending double play, swinging momentum back to the visitors.
Pfeiffer capitalized in the top of the sixth when
Christian Bellantoni smashed a two-run shot, narrowing the margin to 7-5. Once again, Baker had the answer, launching his second solo home run of the afternoon to extend the cushion to 8-5. Harris added an insurance run in the eighth with a leadoff solo shot, making it 9-5.
With a crucial opening-game victory on the line in the double-elimination bracket, the Blue Jays handed the ball to
Dylan Zucker for the ninth. After Zucker quickly retired the first two batters, a Hopkins defensive miscue allowed the Falcons to push across a run to make it 9-6. However, Zucker remained unfazed, inducing a game-ending flyout to secure the victory.
Hopkins returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, May 16, to face Pomona-Pitzer with a spot in the NCAA Regional Championship game on the line. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
Inside the Box Score – Johns Hopkins
•
Kieren Collins (7-0) earned the win, tossing 7.0 innings. He allowed five runs on six hits with no walks, while striking out five.
• Four Blue Jays recorded multi-hit games, led by
Luke Baker, who went a perfect 4-for-4 with two RBIs, two home runs and a walk.
•
William Jaun has recorded a hit in 24 of the last 26 games and has recorded at least three hits in seven of those contests.
• Baker has reached base safely in 35 of the last 37 games and recorded a hit in 23 of the last 30 games.
• The Blue Jays have scored three or more runs in 73 different innings through 43 games.
• Hopkins has hit multiple home runs in 27 of its 43 games this season and at least one in 35.
Gallery: (5-15-2026) Baseball v. Pfeiffer (NCAA G1)
