BALTIMORE, Md. --- Host Johns Hopkins had an outstanding pitching performance Friday afternoon in a 6-3 victory over Shenandoah University in game one of its best-of-three NCAA Division III Super Regional series. 

Hopkins (34-11) scored three runs in the third along with single runs in the fourth, sixth and eighth to dispatch the Hornets (35-14).

Shenandoah will now need to win twice on Saturday in order to advance to the NCAA Division III World Series in Cedar Rapids, Iowa next weekend.

IN DEPTH

Hopkins took the early lead with three runs on two hits, a walk and an SU error in the bottom of third.

That, combined with a combined eight-hitter from pitchers Jack Bunting and Josh Hejka, proved to be enough to earn the game one win.

Bunting (13-0) allowed one run on four hits and three walks in 6.0 innings of work before turning it over to Hejka to start the seventh.

Hejka posted his sixth save of the season with three innings of relief.

After the Blue Jays added a single run in the fourth, Shenandoah got itself on the board in the sixth thanks to a pair of hits and a walk. Senior Luke Nussman drove in Frankie Ritter with that initial run, but the inning ended on the same play as Tristan Baker was cut down on the plate after Nussman induced a throw to second following his single to center.

Ritter had led off the frame with a double to center.

Senior Robert Klinchock (7-5) took the loss for Shenandoah. He allowed six runs (five earned) on 13 hits and four walks against a season-high-tying nine strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings. Freshman Aaron Torres got the final out of the eighth via strikeout.

The Hornets scored two runs on three hits in the ninth with Jamie Naill driving in the final run on a single to right center.

Ritter, Nussman, Baker, Nail, Keegan Woolford, Robert Marcelle, Grant Thompson and Blaine Hansen had the Hornets hits.

UP NEXT

These two teams are back at it Saturday afternoon in a noon start. Shenandoah is the home team for game two.

--- This release is courtesy of the Shenandoah University department of athletic communications. ---
www.suhornets.com