April 26, 2008

Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD - Five runs in the final two innings of game-two allowed the #13 Johns Hopkins baseball team to earn a split of its doubleheader with Haverford on Saturday afternoon. The Blue Jays (30-5, 16-2 CC) saw their 12-game win streak snapped in the opener with a 7-2 loss before rebounding with a come from behind 9-7 victory in the nightcap.

In game-one with the score tied at 1-1, Haverford put two runs on the board in the top of the fourth to take a lead it would not relinquish. Steve Andelman had a two-run home run down the right field line in the inning to put the Fords on top.

The Fords would add to their lead with two more in the top of the fifth for a 5-1 advantage. Senior center fielder Rob Pietroforte (Brooklyn, NY/Berkeley Carroll) would get one back for the Blue Jays in the bottom of that frame as he had a sacrifice fly.

Haverford would strike for two more in the top of the seventh and claim a 7-2 victory in game-one.

Stefan Pappius-Lefebvre tossed a complete game to pick up his seventh win of the season. He allowed just two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. Senior Ryan Kuhlman (Hicksville, NY/Bethpage) fell to 5-2 on the year as he allowed five runs, three of which were earned in 4.2 innings of work.

In game-two it was Hopkins getting on the board early as senior right fielder Isaac Katz (Merion, PA/Lower Merion) had an RBI double.

The Blue Jays would strike for three more and a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Back-to-back doubles by junior second baseman Dan Merzel (Hopkinton, MA/Hopkinton) and sophomore DH Brian Youchak (Pittsburgh, PA/Vincentian Academy) got things going in the frame. Senior third baseman Todd Emr (Westwood, NJ/Saddle River Day) and junior first baseman Dave Garber (Mount Joy, PA/Donegal) each had RBI singles to plate runs in the inning.

Haverford came roaring back with six runs in the fourth and a single run in the fifth to turn a four-run deficit into a 7-4 advantage.

The game would stay that way till Hopkins came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh. Youchak led off the inning with his team-leading 17th double of the year and stole third with one out. Emr then drove a ball over the left field fence for his fifth home run of the year and in doing so pulled the Blue Jays to within one. After a pitching change for the Fords, the next batter was senior left fielder Jon Solomon (Fairfax, VA/Riverdale Baptist) and he knocked a home run to right field to tie the score at 7-7.

After senior reliever Ryan Kealy (Ardsley, NY/Ardsley) sat the Fords down in order in the top of the eighth, the Blue Jays went back to work in the bottom of the frame. Katz led off the inning with his second double of the game to right center. Katz went to steal third and the catcher's throw sailed in to left field allowing him to come home with the go ahead run. Youchak would add a home run for insurance in the inning.

Kealy set the Fords down in the ninth to earn his fourth win of the season. He threw two innings and struck out three. The loss went to Charlie Carulccio who surrendered three runs in 1.2 innings of relief.

Emr finished 3-for-7 with three RBIs and two runs scored as he extended his hit streak to 14 games while Solomon went 3-for-7 with two runs scored and an RBI. Youchak was 4-for-9 on the day with two RBIs and three runs scored as he extended his hit streak to 17 games. Pietroforte was 3-for-7 with an RBI and a run scored as he extended his hit streak to 22 games. Katz went 2-for-4 in the second game with an RBI and a run scored.

Hopkins returns to action on Monday, April 28 when it hosts TCNJ at 3:30 p.m.

- 30 -