March 17, 2008

Box Score

MESA, AZ - Three runs in the top of the ninth lifted the #30 Keene State baseball team over the #10 Johns Hopkins baseball team by a score of 9-8 on Monday morning in Mesa, AZ. The Blue Jays (4-3) committed a two-out error in the inning to drop the contest, their third loss in a row.

Trailing 8-6 entering the top of the ninth inning, Keene State saw its first two runners in the inning reach base. Anthony Cipolla then laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both of the runners' one base. Hopkins got the second out of the inning before an error at third base allowed the Owls to make it a one run game at 8-7. Greg Ford then hit a ball deep in the hole of the right side of the Blue Jay infield allowing the tying and eventual winning run to score.

In the bottom of the ninth, Ford took to the mound and after allowing a leadoff single to senior third baseman Todd Emr, shut the Blue Jays down in order to clinch the victory.

Hopkins had found itself in an early hole in the game as the Owls reached Blue Jay starter Ryan Kuhlman for two runs in the second inning. Bobby Doyon had an RBI triple during the inning and would later score the second run of that frame.

Hopkins tied things up in the bottom third on a pair of RBI singles from senior left fielder Jon Solomon and senior shortstop Jonas Fester. The Blue Jays would then take a 6-2 lead with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Up 3-2 in the fifth inning, Fester would hit a two-out ground rule double and senior centerfielder Rob Pietroforte was intentionally walked. Emr then stepped to the plate and roped a triple to left field to plate both of the base runners. The Blue Jays capped their scoring in the inning as Emr came home on an RBI single from senior catcher Tony Margve.

After Keene State plated two runs in the top of the sixth to make it a 6-4 game, Hopkins increased its lead with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Those runs came courtesy of another RBI single from Margve and a wild pitch.

Keene State would add two more runs in the eighth inning to set the stage for its ninth inning heroics.

Corey Vogt earned the win after throwing two innings of relief action and allowing just two runs. The save goes to Ford, who pitched a scoreless ninth inning. The loss went to Ryan Kealy, who allowed three runs in 1.2 innings of work.

Ford led the Owls, in addition to his save, he was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored at the plate. Brett Palatiello went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI at the dish.

The Blue Jays three through five hitters were a combined 6-for-13 with five runs scored and three RBIs. Emr finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs while Fester went 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Pietroforte finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored while Margve went 3-for-5 and two RBIs.

The Blue Jays will look to snap their three game losing streak on Tuesday, March 18th against Western New England. First pitch is scheduled for 10:30 am MST.

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