|
Hopkins Knocks Off No. 25 North Carolina Wesleyan
May 14, 2009 SALISBURY, Md. - The Johns Hopkins baseball team avenged its tough loss in the first round with a big win over third-seeded and 25-ranked North Carolina Wesleyan, 14-2 on Thursday at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Md. in the NCAA South Regional. The Blue Jays (25-15) used a six-run first inning to gain an early lead and take control. North Carolina Wesleyan ends its season with a 27-22 record and finishes the NCAA South Regional in seventh place.The Blue Jays hit three home runs against the Battling Bishops to break the school and Centennial Conference single-season records for home runs. JHU's 71 homers are the most by any team in the conference since 2005 (JHU, 70). James Teta led off the first with a walk and moved to second after a sacrifice bunt from Dan Merzel. Todd Emr hit a single to left to put Teta across the plate to tie it 1-1. Emr stole second and scored on a Ryan Biner double off of the left field wall. Brian Youchak walked and Lee Bolyard singled to load the bases for Jesse Sikorski. The sophomore pounded a grand slam over a steep right field wall to give the Blue Jays a 6-1 lead after one. Emr knocked a double to left center and Biner hit another double off of the left field wall to get Emr home for a 7-1 lead in the second. Sikorski sent a solo shot over the left field wall to lead off the bottom of the third to tie the record for home runs in a season (70). Dave Kahn and Teta followed with singles to put runners on the corners. Emr got an RBI-single to plate Kahn and Merzel singled as Teta came home before Youchak hit a sacrifice fly to left to allow Merzel to score. The Blue Jays held an 11-1 lead after the third.
Teta connected for a double with two outs in the fourth. Kahn, who reached on an error, sprinted from first for Hopkins' 12th run. Zollie Woodlief led off the sixth with a solo homer to left center to give the Battling Bishops a second run. Emr got a double with one out in the seventh and Youchak hit an RBI-single to left center to get Emr across the plate for a 13-2 lead. In the ninth, junior Matthew Bernardi sent a long ball over the left field wall to open the ninth. The homer was the first of Bernardi's career and gave Hopkins a 14-2 advantage. The hit broke the school and conference record for home runs in a season. Emr was 4-for-5 with two doubles and three runs scored while Sikorski had a grand slam and a home run for five RBI. Senior Dave Fioretti earned the with for JHU and improves to 5-0 on the season. Hopkins moves on the face the loser of the Salisbury/Christopher Newport game at 10 a.m. on Friday. |
   |
