BALTIMORE, Md. (March 12, 2017) – Preseason All-American Zeph Walters pitched seven strong innings and delivered the game-winning RBI as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team defeated Johns Hopkins University, 3-1, Sunday afternoon to open its annual Spring Break Trip.
Freshman Shaye Bartnick had an RBI double and senior Michael Mule' plated a run with a groundout for Stevens, who evened its record at 4-4-1.
"It's always nice to win on the road, especially against a quality program like Johns Hopkins," head coach Kristaps Aldins said.
Colby Wilson scored the only run of the game for the Blue Jays, who fell to 5-2 on the season. Johns Hopkins was ranked 40th in the nation in the most recent Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll.
On a cold day on the east coast, Walters (2-0) provided the heat on the mound in a game that was completed in under two hours. Making his first start of the season, the tall right-hander scattered just two hits and struck out eight, allowing just one unearned run.
After not being able to solve Hopkins starter Alex Ross over the first three innings, Stevens scored three times in fourth off reliever Sean McCracken (1-1). Eric Zickert led off with a bunt single. Bartnick doubled to center, easily scoring the speedy shortstop to tie the game. After Nolan Bennett grounded out, Bartnick moved to third on a passed ball. Walters then followed with a single back up the middle to score the Stevens first baseman and give the Ducks a 2-1 lead. Second baseman Patrick Rood reached on an error. Walters and Rood each advanced a base on the second passed ball of the inning. Mule' then deftly pushed a dribbler to second, scoring Walters for the third run of the frame.
"[Zickert] had a quality game at shortstop and made several key plays late in the game that got us out of some jams," Aldins added.
Staked with a 3-1 lead, Walters allowed one batter to reach second base over his final four innings before exiting.
Sophomore Charlie Ruegger pitched the final two innings to earn his first save. The right-handed reliever battled Ryan Orgielewicz in a 13-pitch at-bat before inducing the Hopkins catcher to ground out to short.
"Charlie really bore down at the end," Aldins shared. "He stayed calm and locked down the win."
Freshman oufielder Jack Bodner delivered a pinch-hit, ninth-inning single in his first collegiate at-bat. He became the sixth Duck to record their first hit this season.
Up Next: Stevens baseball continues its Spring Break trip with a matchup with Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia on March 14.