ABERDEEN, MD – The Johns Hopkins baseball team used another explosive day at the plate combined with its deep pitching staff to claim Sunday afternoon's doubleheader over visiting Oneonta (18-7, 6-3). The Blue Jays improve to 4-0 on the season with the victories at the chilly Ripken Sports Complex, while Oneonta drops to 1-4 on the year.
Game One (JHU 18, SUNY-ON 7)
Hopkins used a seven-run, five-hit fourth inning to overpower Oneonta in the day's first game, as the hosts cruised to an 18-7 win. Junior Colin McCarthy led the team with two hits, three RBIs and a run, while five other Jays chipped in at least one RBI.
It wasn't all Hopkins to start, as the Red Dragons gave the Jays their first deficit of the season early on. Oneonta sophomore Dylan Stamile doubled down the right field line to bring in teammate Matt Mastroianni, giving his team a quick 1-0 lead.
The Blue Jays had an answer in the bottom of the first, as freshman Ryan Orgielewicz notched his first collegiate RBI on a double to right field to even the score 1-1.
Oneonta rallied with two outs and no men on in the top of the third, using a walk and two singles to score their second run of the game. Junior Jacob Enterlin found himself in a tight spot with the bases loaded a few batters later, but forced a groundout from LJ Gizzarelli to get out of the inning.
Hopkins wasn't down for long, as McCarthy singled to right center in the bottom of the third to score sophomore JR Charles from second. With the teams deadlocked at two runs a piece, Hopkins busted the game wide open in the fourth batting around the order to score seven runs. Up 9-2, the Jays were in the driver's seat for the rest of the game adding a run in the fifth and four runs each in the sixth and seventh to pad the lead.
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Oneonta was able to post four runs in the top of the ninth, but it was too little, too late as sophomore Andrew Zigmont forced a pop up from Stephen Provenzano to end the game.
Game Two (JHU 6, SUNY-ON 3)
Sophomore RHP Colin Friedman allowed only two hits and one earned run in six innings of work to set up Hopkins for its final win of the weekend over Oneonta, 6-3. Senior Mike Denlinger finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs to lead the Jays at the plate, while freshman Joe Conlon notched his first collegiate RBI on two hits in the win.
Friedman was solid in his season-opening start, retiring the side in the first three innings to keep the Red Dragons off the base paths. The Jays benefitted from an error in the bottom of the third, allowing Denlinger to score from second and put his side up 1-0. Hopkins was able to tack on another two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a pair of RBIs from Denlinger and Conlon.
Oneonta was able to pull within two after a pair of hits in the top of the sixth allowed freshman Casy Kies to score. The Blue Jays escaped without any further damage, as Friedman caught a runner stealing and forced a groundout to finish his day on the mound.
In the bottom of the eighth, Hopkins added insurance after loading the bases as freshman TJ Gordon found an opportunity to steal home. Denlinger later singled in the inning to bring home McCarthy and give Hopkins a 6-1 edge heading into the ninth.
The Red Dragons were not done yet, scoring twice in the top of the ninth to cut the JHU lead to three with only one out. Head coach Bob Babb called upon junior Justin Drechsel to close things out, and after letting up a single to his first batter, the Springfield, VA native delivered. The RHP struck out a pair of Oneonta pinch hitters to earn his first save of 2014 and help Hopkins seal the 6-3 victory.
The Blue Jays will be in store for warmer weather when the team returns to action at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in sunny Ft. Myers, Florida. Hopkins has a full slate of games against competition from across the country scheduled from March 14-22. Check Hopkinssports.com later this week for information surrounding the trip.
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