By Lauren Dellipoali, Johns Hopkins Athletic Communications
The Basics
• Score: Hopkins – 7 • Washington College - 3
• Records: JHU (25-11, 13-3 CC) • Washington College (23-15, 7-9 CC)
• Location: Chestertown, MD • Athey Park
• Pitching Decision: W – Harrison Folk (3-1) • L – Nick Popolizio (1-6)
• The Short Story: Trailing 3-1 heading into the top of the eighth, the Johns Hopkins baseball team scored six unanswered runs to defeat Washington College and clinch a spot in the Centennial Conference playoffs.
How it Happened
• Washington College led off the top of the first with a single off Nick Burns, but Aaron Barclay line into a double play to Frank Clara and Burns got a fly out to right to end the inning.
• With one out in the second, Mike Smith worked a walk and advanced to second on a single from Zach Jaffe. Austin Sacks followed with a single up the middle to score Smith and put the Blue Jays up 1-0.
• The Shoremen took the lead in the third as back-to-back singles and an error put runners in scoring position. A sacrifice bunt scored the runner on third to tie the game and a groundout gave WC the 2-1 advantage.
• Washington College threatened in the fourth against Burns but the lefty got a double play and a groundout to leave a runner stranded at third.
• The Shoreman added to their lead, scoring a run off a Blue Jay error to take a 3-1 advantage.
• With one out in the eighth, Clara hit his fifth home run of the season to bring JHU to within one. Smith followed with a single and Jaffe singled to left as both he and Smith advanced on an error to put runners on second and third with one out. Sacks was intentionally walked to load the bases for Dillon Bowman who hit into a fielder's choice to score Smith and tie the game. Chris DeGiacomo then stepped to the plate and laced a single to right-center to give Hopkins a 4-3 lead.
• Harrison Folk worked around an error and single in the bottom of the inning to keep JHU in the lead.
• The Blue Jays loaded the bases in the top of the ninth and Sacks laced a single down the right-field line to score two and give Hopkins a 7-3 advantage.
• CJ Gillmer singled to lead off the bottom of the ninth but Folk got a double play and a groundout to end the game and preserve the 7-3 comeback victory.
Team Leaders
Johns Hopkins:
Hits: Clara, Jaffe, Sacks (2)
RBI: Sacks (3)
Strikeouts: Burns (2)
Washington College:
Hits: Three tied (2)
RBI: Two tied (1)
Strikeouts: Mikulus (2)
What it Means
• JHU is 90-34 against Washington College and has won the last 11 meetings.
• The Blue Jays officially locked up a spot in the Centennial Conference playoffs for the 17th consecutive season and are the only team to appear in every conference tournament since the tournament began in 2002.
Inside the Box Score
•This is the fourth time this season the JHU pitching staff has not allowed a walk as Burns went six innings allowing seven hits three runs (one earned) with two strikeouts and Folk finished the last three innings allowing just three hits.
• Hopkins' 4-7 hitters combined for seven hits, four RBI and seven runs scored.
• The Shoremen outhit the Blue Jays' 10-9 and this is the sixth time this season that JHU has been outhit and won the game.
• JHU improves to 16-5 when scoring first and the Blue Jays are 5-0 when scoring seven runs in a game.
• Sacks had three RBI in the game which is the fifth time the freshman has had multiple RBI games. It is also the third time this season he has knocked in three runs.
• With his two hits in the game, Jaffe now has 12 multi-hit games this season while Sacks and Clara have seven.
Up Next
• JHU returns home for its final regular season home games as the Blue Jays wrap up Centennial Conference play against Dickinson. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12:30 pm.
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