Boucher and Normoyle Each Score One Run for WC

CHESTERTOWN, MD - Visiting fifth-ranked Johns Hopkins snapped a 1-1 tie with a two-out two-run single by John Swarr in the top of the sixth to take a 3-1 lead en route to a 4-2 win over host Washington College in a Centennial Conference baseball game on Wednesday afternoon at Athey Baseball Park. The Blue Jays improved to 26-3 overall and 13-0 in conference play with the win, while the Shoremen dropped to 12-11 and 7-6 with the loss.

In the top of the sixth, the Blue Jays loaded the bases with one out courtesy of a fielding error, walk and intentional walk. After senior pitcher Chris Keiper (Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) struck out Jesse Sikorski for the second out. The next batter, Swarr took a two strike pitch and hit it through the left side to drive in Sam Wernick and Chris Huisman.

In the top of the eighth, the Blue Jays pushed the lead to 4-1 on a home run to right field by Brian Youchak to lead off the frame. In the bottom of the eighth, the Shoremen loaded the bases with one out, but Hopkins hurler Alex Eliopoulos induced a double play groundball off the bat of senior Brian Kramer (Fairfax, VA/W.T. Woodson) to end the threat.

In the last of the ninth, senior Matt Boucher (Alexandria, VA/Bishop Ireton) singled with two out and took second on defensive indifference. He would advance to third on an infield single by sophomore Ryan Normoyle (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) and scored on a the throw to try to get Normoyle at first that got away. The next hitter, freshman Kyle Aldrich (Warren, NJ/Watchung Hills Regional) represented the tying run, but he was called out looking to end the game.

The Blue Jays took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning when Sikorski singled through the right side with two away to drive in Dave Kahn from second base. The score would hold up until the bottom half of the fifth when the Shoremen evened the game at 1-1. Normoyle was hit by the pitch to lead off the inning and would steal second base. He moved to third on a groundout and scored on a groundout to shortstop off the bat of freshman Ryan Mulhearn (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth Area).

For Hopkins, Eliopoulos pitched a complete game three-hitter to get the win. He struck out eight batters and allowed just one earned run in improving his record to 5-0. He had a no-hitter going for 7 1/3 innings before being broke up on a single to shallow centerfield by WC freshman Tyler Cotterell (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South). At the plate, Sikorski went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Swarr plated two teammates.

Keiper was the tough luck loser for Washington and falls to 2-2. He went six innings in his first start of the season, striking out six and surrendering just five hits and three runs, only one of which was earned. Boucher and Normoyle each had a hit and run scored for the Shoremen.

The Shoremen pitching staff held the Blue Jays to just six hits in the contest, which ties their season low for hits in a game. It also snapped a 22-game streak for Johns Hopkins in which they recorded double figures in hits.

The two teams conclude the home and home series on Friday at 3:30 p.m. over in Baltimore in Centennial Conference play.