CEDAR RAPIDS, IA- Despite several defensive miscues, the top-ranked Johns Hopkins basebtall team used a late-inning, six-run, two-out rally in the eighth to come from behind and win game one at the Division III College World Series, 10-5, over Misericordia.
Errors cost the Blue Jays throughout the day and caused them to fall into a deficit from the second inning on. After cutting the deficit to one with a two-run bottom of the seventh (5-4). Johns Hopkins had a chance to take its first lead in the eighth after Jimmy Stevens looped a double down the right field line to get into scoring position with one out. After recording the second out, the Cougars committed back-to-back errors of their own to load the bases with two outs. Dillon Souvignier was ready to attack the first pitch he saw and he lined it right back at the pitcher, Tyler Leonard, who knocked it down but could not recover in time and Stevens darted home with the tying run.
Shawn Steuerer stepped into the batter's box with a chance to be the hero. After falling behind 1-2, Steuerer lashed a ball into left center that dropped past a diving Garrett McIlhenney and cleared the bases and gave JHU its first lead of the day, 8-5. The Blue Jays pushed across two more runs in the inning, including one off of a Sam Frank RBI knock, to open up a five run lead.
Jaspar Carmichael came out of the 'pen for the Blue Jays to slam the door with two runners on in the ninth to secure the win for Johns Hopkins. The Blue Jays are now 7-4 when trailing after the seventh inning this season.
Misericordia got the scoring started in the top of the second inning by capitalizing on a couple Blue Jay mistakes in the field. With two outs and runners on first and second, Jason Sanfillipo laced a base hit into left field to plate the game's first run. Brendan Gray then came in to score from third on a Frank throwing error to make it 2-0.
The Blue Jays answered back with a run of their own in the bottom of the third. Alex Shane led off the inning with a double down the left field line, then wound up trading places with Matthew Cooper, who followed up with a two-bagger to left center. The next three Johns Hopkins batters were set down in order and Cooper was stranded on third base.
The Cougars were able to manufacture a run in both the fourth and fifth innings to retain control of the game. The also added a run in the seventh on a throwing error to take a 5-2 lead, which was their largest of the day.
Inside the Box Score - Johns Hopkins
- Everyone in the Johns Hopkins lineup picked up at least one hit in the game. Shane led the way with a 4-for-5 performance to become the first freshman in school history with a four-hit game at the World Series.
- Gabe Romano battled for the Blue Jays to get through seven innings without allowing an earned run. His ERA has dropped to 1.62 this season.
- With his double in the eighth, Steuerer has reached 80 hits on the season, which leads the team and is sixth all-time on the single-season hits list in program history.
Inside the Box Score - Misericordia
- The Cougars wasted a lot of opportunities with runners on base as they stranded 13 runners and left a number of them in scoring position.
- Joe Valenti gave Misericordia seven solid innings to be in line for the victory when he was pulled from the game.
- Joe Comins was the only Cougar to record a multi-hit game, going 2-for-5 with a run scored.
Of Note
- The 10 runs are the second-most Johns Hopkins has ever scored in a World Series game. The Blue Jays also scored 10 against Southern Maine in 1989.
- Johns Hopkins also tied the second most hits by a JHU team at the World Series with 16; the Blue Jays previously had 16 against Adrian at the 2021 World Series.
- Five runs is the largest margin of victory in school history at the World Series.
Up Next
Johns Hopkins moves into the winner's bracket and will play the winner of the four/five matchup between Endicott and Baldwin Wallace. First pitch is scheduled for 2:15 pm (EST) on Saturday. The Cougars head to the loser's bracket and play again at 10 am (CT) tomorrow morning against the Endicott-Baldwin Wallace loser.