YORK, PA –
Game Information
• Score: No. 4 Johns Hopkins 1, Wheaton (MA) 6
• Records: JHU (38-7), Wheaton (26-14)
• Location: York, PA PeoplesBank Park
• First Pitch: 4:21 p.m.
• Weather: Cloudy, windy
• Pitchers of Record: W – Brady Furdon, L – Preston Betz (5-2)
The Short Story
• The fourth-ranked and first-seeded Johns Hopkins baseball team suffered its first loss in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional as it fell to third-seeded Wheaton (MA), 6-1, Saturday at PeoplesBank Park in York, PA. The loss concludes the Blue Jays' 21 game winning streak and is just the second time that JHU has been held to a single run this season. Hopkins will take on the winner of second-seeded Shenandoah and fifth-seeded Alvernia Sunday at 12 p.m.
• Hopkins starter Preston Betz picked up a pair of strikeouts in the first inning, stranding two Lyons to open the game. The Blue Jays followed it up with a run in the bottom of the first. Conor Reynolds hit a leadoff double, and Ryan Orgielewicz hit a double of his own down the right field line to score Reynolds.
• The Johns Hopkins lead was short-lived as, in typical, fashion, the team surrendered the lead to its opponent. In the second inning, Three of the first four batters singled to load the bases with one out. LaJoie reached first on a fielder's choice before advancing to second on a throwing error by second baseman Mike Eberle, allowing Raposo and Boyd to score, giving Wheaton a 2-1 lead. The Lyons tacked on another run in the top of the third as Sharkey hit a solo homer over the left field fence to increase Wheaton's lead to 3-1.
• The Lyons went three up, three down in the top of the fourth, and the Blue Jays kept Wheaton away from home plate again in the fifth as the first two batters grounded out, and Reynolds caught a Goodwin-Boyd line out to close the inning with Sharkey stranded on second.
• Wheaton extended its lead to 4-1 in the sixth inning. Betz began the inning, hitting Walsh with a pitch to put one Lyon on, and recorded two outs. John Donohue took over at the mound. Walsh advanced to second as Donohue overthrew first base, and Boyd followed Walsh on base with a five-pitch walk. Donohue walked another Lyon to load the bases. With a wild pitch to LaJoie, Walsh rounded home to increase the Lyons' lead to 4-1. LaJoie flied out to left fielder Jon Hayden to end the inning.
• The Lyons added two runs in the top of the seventh. With one out, Sharkey doubled to left field and advanced to third on a single by Goodwin-Boyd. Harrison Folk took over pitching duties and walked Walsh on four pitches to load the bases. Raposo stepped up to the plate and hit a two RBI double to left field to score Sharkey and Goodwin-Boyd and give Wheaton a 6-1 lead.
• After its run in the first inning, Hopkins struggled to find its offense. The Blue Jays recorded just seven hits, with only one in the second through seventh innings. In the bottom of the eighth, Hopkins recorded three hits as Brian Lin hit a leadoff single before Mike Smith grounded into a double play. JHU left a pair on base as Orgielewicz and Joe Conlon each singled.
Inside the Box Score.
• The Blue Jays did not score a run after the first inning for the first time this season.
• Wheaton (MA) outhit Hopkins 10-7. The Blue Jays are 8-6 when outhit by their opponents.
• The teams each left nine on base, with Hopkins stranding three in the final two innings.
What it Means
• The Blue Jays sit at 40-40 all-time in the NCAA Regional Tournament, including 28-30 in the Mid-Atlantic Regional.
• Hopkins is 1-5 in its third NCAA Regional game after winning the first two games.
• Wheaton (MA) picks up its fourth-straight win over the Blue Jays, with every game taking place in a neutral site.
• JHU concludes its win streak at 21 games, the third longest in program history.