May 5, 2012

Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD – The Johns Hopkins baseball team faced unfamiliar territory Saturday afternoon playing in the elimination game against Washington College of the Centennial Conference championship tournament after falling to Haverford earlier in the day. The Shoremen used a five-run seventh inning to lift them over the Blue Jays and earn a spot in the championship game.

Down 6-3 going into the top of the seventh, the Shoremen rallied for five runs in the inning on five hits. With three runs across in the inning and the scored tied at six, Washington College had runners on second and third when Dennis Thomas delivered what proved to be the game-winning two-run single through the left side to bring around Tyler Cotterell and Joe Rolewicz. The Shoremen tacked on two more in the top of the ninth to take a 10-6 lead and the Blue Jays were unable to make the come back and were eliminated from the tournament for the first time since 2006.

Hopkins jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first with three runs to start the game. Junior Kyle Neverman took an 0-2 pitch over the left field fence to lead off the inning before classmate Jeff Lynch got a hold of the first pitch he saw after senior Aaron Borenstein drew a six-pitch walk. Lynch sent the ball far over the left center fence and put the Jays up 3-0.

The Shoremen answered with a run in the top of the second but junior Ryan Zakszeski put the Jays back up by three runs, 4-1, with a solo home run down the left field line on the first pitch from the Shoremen new pitcher, Daniel Wu.

With two outs and two on in the bottom of the fifth, sophomore Mike Denlinger singled down the right field line to drive home Zakszeski and Lynch and push the Blue Jay lead to 6-1.

The Blue Jays faced elimination after falling to Haverford earlier in the day, 10-8. The Fords scored at least a run in every inning except for the fourth and fifth to hold the Blue Jays at bay and advance to the conference championship game for the third straight year.

Haverford jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, plating a run in the first on a wild pitch and two more in the second on three hits in the frame.

The Blue Jays answered with a run in the bottom of the second when junior Matt Ricci singled to center field to bring around senior Scott Barrett who reached on a two-out single earlier in the inning.

The Blue Jays and Fords traded runs in the third to give Haverford a 4-2 lead. In the bottom of the third, Neverman led off with a double to left center and after advancing to third on a ground out from Borenstein, and came around to score when Lynch was able to reach on a throwing error by the Fords’ third baseman that brought the first baseman off the bag.

Hopkins took its only lead of the game after plating three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Junior Mike Kanen loaded the bases on a bunt single down the third base line before Borenstein beat out a throw to first to reach on a fielder’s choice and bring around junior Adam Weiner. Lynch collected his second RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly to center to bring home Neverman. Zakszeski capped off the three-run third with an RBI single to right field that brought home Borenstein after he stole second to move into scoring position.

The Fords once again answered with two runs in the top of the sixth to re-take the lead, 6-5, before plating two more runs in the seventh to take a 8-5 lead. Hopkins did answer with two more in the bottom of seventh to pull to within one at 8-7. Kanen led off the frame with a double to left center and Lynch traded places with him with a double of his own to left center. Lynch was able to advance to third on a throwing error by the centerfielder and eventually scored on a throwing error by the third baseman on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Zakszeski.

Haverford scored a run in each of the eighth and ninth to take a 10-7 lead going into the final three outs for the Blue Jays. Hopkins was able to get one back in the bottom of the ninth as Zakszeski scored on a bases loaded double play ball to get the Jays to within two, but Fords’ reliever Kevin Goff was able to record the final out and hand Haverford the win.

Sophomore Tyler Goldstein took the loss in the elimination game against Washington while senior Sam Eagleson endured the loss on the mound against Haverford.

Lynch paced the Blue Jays at the plate in the tournament, going 6-for-13 in the three games with six RBI and a home run a double. Vonderschmidt, Neverman and Zakszeski each added a round tripper for the Jays in the tournament.

Hopkins finishes its season at 25-16-2 with a 13-5 conference slate.