March 21, 2008

Box Score

CHANDLER, AZ - Senior second baseman Nate Adelman's single in the eighth inning put Hopkins on top in the midst of a ten run inning to give the #10 Johns Hopkins baseball team a 13-6 victory over Dakota State on Friday morning in Chandler, AZ. The Blue Jays (9-3) have won five straight contests and are averaging 12 runs a game in those five victories.

Dakota State reached Blue Jay starter Andrew Pevsner for singles runs in each of the first three innings of the contest. Those runs came on RBI singles from Josh Guild, Kyle Young and Zane Roduner. The Trojans would score an additional run in the top of the fifth inning as Hopkins found itself in a 4-0 hole heading to the bottom of the fifth.

The Blue Jays started their comeback in the bottom of the fifth as Adelman roped a double to left field leading off the inning. He would come around to score on a one-out single off the bat of senior shortstop Jonas Fester. The Blue Jays would pull to within one run at 4-3 with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. In that inning sophomore catcher Joe Borrelli had an RBI single and the other run came on a wild pitch.

On the hill for the Blue Jays' junior Matt Goldman was taking care of the Dakota State line-up. Goldman had come in to start the fourth inning and surrendered just one run in the fourth through eighth innings on four hits. He also had six strikeouts during that stretch.

Hopkins got its bats going in the bottom of the eighth inning. Trailing by one, the Blue Jays sent 15 batters to the plate in the frame. An RBI single from junior first baseman Ryan Biner tied the game at 4-4 before Adelman's single gave Hopkins a 6-4 advantage. The Blue Jays got RBI doubles from senior left fielder Jon Solomon and Fester in the inning as well. Emr came through with an RBI single before Biner came through with his second RBI single of the inning. The Blue Jays wrapped up their scoring in the inning as Borrelli laced a two-out single to center field to score Biner and Emr.

Dakota State would score two runs in the top of the ninth as Jeff Savas and Guild had back-to-back triples but that is all the Trojans would manage in the frame. Hopkins claimed the 13-6 victory behind Goldman and strong eighth inning with the bats.

Goldman earns his first career victory for the Blue Jays. He went 5.2 innings, surrendering three runs and striking out six with just one walk. The loss went to Dan Rhodes, who surrendered 10 runs on 12 hits with two walks in his two innings of work.

Biner and Emr continue to swing a hot bat for the Blue Jays. Biner finished the day 4-for-5 with three runs scored and three RBIs while Emr was 4-for-5 as well with two runs scored and an RBI. Emr is currently on a seven-game hit streak while Biner has a base knock in five straight contests. Borrelli finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs on the day.

Fester and senior center fielder Rob Pietroforte each extended their hit streaks in the game. Fester has now connected in 22 straight contests dating back to last season and his eighth inning double leaves him two shy of tying the JHU and Centennial Conference career doubles record. Pietroforte has a 15-game hit streak dating back to last season. Solomon also extended his hit streak to 10 games during this season.

The Blue Jays will wrap up their spring trip by taking on Hamline on Saturday, March 22nd. First pitch of that game is set for 9 a.m. MST. Hopkins returns home on Tuesday, March 25 to open its Centennial Conference title defense against McDaniel at 3:30 p.m.

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