March 15, 2004

Box Score

Clearwater, FL - The Johns Hopkins baseball team remained undefeated by defeating Ripon, 4-1 and 6-1, in a doubleheader Sunday at Englebert Field.

The sixth-ranked Blue Jays, who improved to 6-0 on the season, scored in the first inning of the seven-inning opener when junior Mike Spiciarich (Syosset, NY/Chaminade) tripled and scored on a single by junior Paul Winterling (Glenelg, MD/McDonogh). In the second, senior Brian Morley (Tappan, NY/Don Bosco Prep) singled to plate senior Carl Ippolito (Ewing, NJ/Pennington School), who had doubled. Morley then advanced to third on a single by senior Doug Hitchner (Haverford, PA/Episcopal Academy) and scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Gary Rosenberg (West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield).

Hopkins added a run in the third, as senior Craig Cetta (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) reached on an error by the Ripon shortstop, stole second and scored on an Ippolito single.

Senior Russ Berger (Owings Mills, MD/Owings Mills) allowed just two hits in five innings pitched to improve to 2-0 on the year, while sophomore Jason Thayer (Finksburg, MD/Westminster) gave up two hits and struck out four in the final two innings to pick up the save.

Morley went 2-for-3 with a single, double and run batted in, while Hitchner was also 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.

Hopkins again scored in the opening frame in the nine-inning nightcap, as senior Tim Casale (West Hempstead, NY/Chaminade) singled and scored on a single by junior Eric Nigro (Randolph, NJ/Taft Prep). Sophomore Corey Gleason (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) doubled in the third inning and scored by a triple by senior Bryan Eberle (Frederick, MD/Urbana) to give the Blue Jays a two-run lead. Casale then singled home Eberle, stole second and scored on a single by senior Rob Morrison (Malibu, CA/Loyola).

In the sixth Eberle doubled and scored on a Morrison single, and the following inning junior Paul Long (Oklahoma City, OK/Heritage Hall) tripled and came home on a sacrifice fly by senior Sven Stafford (Evanston, IL/Evanston).

Senior Matt Righter (Clarion, PA/Lawrenceville Prep) allowed two hits and struck out four in four scoreless innings pitched, while junior Ryan McConnell (Lancaster, PA/Penn Manor) picked up the win after giving up three hits and a run while striking out six in five innings of work.

Morrison finished 3-for-5 with three singles and the two runs batted in, while Casale also went 3-for-5 with three singles, an RBI and a stolen base. Eberle was 3-for-4 with a single, double, triple and run batted in, and Long finished 2-for-4 with a single, triple and stolen base.

The Blue Jays' game on Monday with Colby-Sawyer at Jack Russell Stadium has been moved to 5 p.m.

-30-