GAME ONE
• Score: JHU – 1 Lakeland - 0
• Records: JHU (6-4) • Lakeland (4-4)
• Location: Fort Myers, FL (Player Development Center)
• Pitching Decision: W – Preston Betz (2-0), L - Connor Hilburn (1-1)
• The Short Story: Preston Betz struck out a career-high 13 batters in a complete game shutout victory over Lakeland in game one of the doubleheader.
How it Happened
• Tim Kutcher got Hopkins going with a leadoff single to start the bottom of the first, but Hilburn would quickly get a double play ball to clean the bases. Mike Smith then doubled to left, but Hilburn got struck out Chris Festa to end the inning.
• Wahl Adame singled to center in the second with one out, however, Betz struck out the next two Muskies batters to get out of the inning.
• Lakeland got another runner on in the third on an error, but Betz got Drew Richard to ground into a double play to end the inning.
• Hilburn cruised through the Blue Jay lineup as he retired Hopkins in order in innings 2-6. Betz was just as dominate getting least one strikeout in every inning.
• In the bottom of the seventh, Zach Jaffe led off with a double to left and was pinch ran for by Chris DeGiacomo after a sacrifice bunt by Smith advanced DeGiacomo to third, Lakeland intentionally walked Festa to put runners on the corners for Mike Eberle who hit into a fielder's choice that scored DeGiacomo from third and gave the Blue Jays a 1-0 win.
Inside the Box Score
• Betz dazzled on the mound, allowing just three hits and no walks. He notched a career-high 13 strikeouts in the complete game win.
• Hilburn was just as good on the bump, going 6.2 innings scattering three hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
GAME TWO
• Score: Hopkins – 4 • Lakeland - 1
• Records: JHU (7-4) • Lakeland (4-5)
• Location: Fort Myers, FL (Player Development Center)
• Pitching Decision: W – Nick Bodner (1-0), L – Dylan Royce (1-1), S – Jake Griffin (1)
• The Short Story: Game two featured a bit more offense than game one, but Hopkins was able to sweep the doubleheader, defeating Lakeland by a score of 4-1.
How it Happened
• The Blue Jays jumped out in front in the top of the second. Nate Davis doubled to lead off the inning, but he was thrown out at home on a Dillon Bowman single to left. Bowman advanced to second on the throw home and scored the first Hopkins run of the day on the first-career RBI for Austin Sacks.
• Johns Hopkins extended its lead to two runs as Bowman notched his first RBI of the day, scoring Alex Darwiche from second. Darwiche earlier singled and stole second.
•JHU starter Nick Bodner had not allowed a hit until the fifth inning when Alberto Oliveras took hit deep to cut the Blue Jay lead in half.
• In the sixth, Darwiche reached on an error by the Lakeland third baseman and advanced to third on a Davis double. Bowman singled to left to score Darwiche and put the Blue Jays up 3-1.
• Jake Griffin came in to relieve Bodner in the sixth and retired the Muskies in order.
• Robby Faris scored on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh to give JHU a 4-1 lead, but that was plenty for Griffin who retired Lakeland in order to complete the doubleheader sweep.
Inside the Box Score
• Bowman went 3-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Davis finished the day 2-4 while Darwiche went 1-3 with two runs scored.
• Bodner went the first five allowing just two hits and the one run. He struck out four and walked one. Griffin pitched two perfect innings in relief, striking out two hitters.
• Dylan Royce went 6.1 innings for Lakeland allowing eight hits, four runs (three earned) with one walk and three strikeouts.
What it Means
• Hopkins is now 3-0 against Lakeland.
• The Blue Jays have won three straight games to begin the Florida trip.
• In the two games combined, the JHU pitchers combined for 19 strikeouts and surrendered just five hits and one walk.
Up Next
• Hopkins returns to the diamond tomorrow for a 12 pm contest against Plymouth St.
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