March 18, 2004
Box Score
Clearwater, FL -
The sixth-ranked Johns Hopkins baseball team remained unbeaten with an 8-2 victory over Nichols Thursday afternoon at Miller Huggins Field.
The Blue Jays, who improved to 9-0 on the year, took the lead in the bottom of the second with two runs. Junior Mike Spiciarich (Syosset, NY/Chaminade) doubled and scored the game's first run when junior Dave Montegari (West Hempstead, NY/Chaminade) singled. Montegari then advanced to second on a single by senior Bryan Eberle (Frederick, MD/Urbana) and scored when senior Tim Casale (West Hempstead, NY/Chaminade) singled.
The Bison got a run back in the top of the fourth, but Hopkins answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-1 lead. Spiciarich started the rally with a single but was erased when Montegari reached on a fielder's choice. Montegari advanced to second on the play on an error by the Nichols second baseman, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a triple by Casale. Senior
Rob Morrison (Malibu, CA/Loyola) followed with a single to plate Casale, and after he stole second, Morrison scored on a single by junior
Paul Winterling (Glenelg, MD/McDonogh).
Nichols scored one in the sixth to pull within 5-2, but the Blue Jays put the game away with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Sophomore Corey Gleason (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) ignited the rally with a single, and scored on a double by Montegari. After senior Craig Cetta (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) pinch-ran for Montegari and scored on a triple by Eberle, Casale followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Eberle and cap the scoring.
Hopkins senior Jeremy Brown (Baltimore, MD/McDonogh) picked up the win to improve to 3-0 on the year after allowing two runs, one earned, and three hits while striking out four in six innings of work. Senior Matt Righter (Clarion, PA/Lawrenceville Prep) struck out three in two scoreless innings pitched, while freshman Ryan Lanpher (York, PA/Calvert Hall) struck out one in a scoreless ninth. Neither Righter nor Lanpher allowed a hit while combining on the three shutout innings.
Montegari led the Blue Jays by going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a single and two runs batted in, while Casale went 2-for-5 with a single, a triple and three runs batted in. Spiciarich finished 2-for-5 with a single and a double.
The Blue Jays face Defiance Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.
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