CHESTERTOWN, MD – The Johns Hopkins baseball team took on Washington College in Centennial Conference action Wednesday afternoon, with Jacob Harris' pinch-hit RBI in the eighth inning serving as the game-winner in a 5-4 victory. The win was the Blue Jays' fifth in six days and extends their winning streak to nine, including a perfect 7-0 start to conference play.
 
Hopkins (19-6, 7-0 Centennial) needed just two at bats to take its first lead of the afternoon, with Dylan Whitney hitting a leadoff single before Alex Shane's first hit— this one a double to right field — scored the junior to put the Blue Jays in front 1-0.
 
The Shoremen (6-22, 1-6 Centennial) would tie the game in the bottom half of the inning and go on to take the lead after a pair of RBIs by Drew Kinsey and Chase Ruppel made it 3-1 Washington College after three, but ready with a response at the plate was Shawn Steuerer.
 
Dillon Souvignier opened the fourth inning with a single to left, and on the next at bat it was Steuerer roping one over the fence to give the junior his second homer in as many days and level things once again at three.
 
Following a run-saving double play in the bottom of the sixth inning, the sides traded runs in the seventh — Hopkins' coming via an Alex Shane triple — to enter the penultimate inning still knotted at 4-4 before Hopkins took the lead for good.
 
Steuerer drew a leadoff walk to kick off the eighth, advancing to third on a grounder to short and Matthew Cooper walk. With runners on the corners, Harris entered the game as a pinch hitter and did his job, hitting a ball where the only play was the force out at second, allowing Steuerer to cross home plate and push the Jays back in front 5-4.
 
Grant Meert, who entered in relief in the seventh, took over in the final two frames for Hopkins, retiring four of the first five batter he faced before a strikeout and rifle from Caleb Cyr to catch the Washington College baserunner stealing secured the 5-4 win and regular season sweep of the Shoremen.
 
Next up for the Blue Jays is a brief return to Babb Field where they will take on Swarthmore Friday, April 12. First pitch for the rematch between two of the Centennial Conference's top teams is at 3:30 p.m.
 
Inside the Box Score – Johns Hopkins

• Meert was excellent in his fourth appearance of the year, tossing 2.2 shutout innings to earn his first collegiate win. The freshman's inning total was a career high as were his four strikeouts.
 
• Shane's four hits ties his career-best mark set twice a season ago. The sophomore is now batting over .300 (.307) and has now registered a hit in 13 of his last 14 appearances. The triple was also his first of the season.
 
• Dylan Whitney was the lone other Blue Jay to tally multiple hits on the day going 2-5. The junior has spent much of the season batting in the nine hole, but made the move to the leadoff spot today and did not disappoint.
 
• Steuerer's homer in the fourth to level things at four was his second in as many games and marks the second straight game he has registered two runs and two RBIs. The junior's six home runs are tied for the most on the team with his 21 RBIs ranking second.