BALTIMORE, MD -- Mike Spiciarich went four-for-five with two home runs, four runs scored and four runs batted in to lead #1 nationally ranked Johns Hopkins University to a 17-9 victory over Franklin & Marshall College and earn the Centennial Conference Championship.
The game concluded a series in which the two teams combined for 59 runs, 65 hits, 51 RBI, 15 errors, 41 runners left on base, eight doubles, 13 homeruns, one grand slam, a triple play, ten hit batsmen, 20 walks, 30 strikeouts and seven stolen bases over 18 innings as Hopkins defeated F&M 18-15 in game one on May 1.
Hopkins, which was the visiting team in the game, jumped on the board in the second inning Brian Morley worked a leadoff walk and moved to third as Eric Nigro reached on an error by third basemen Tony Breslau (Sr., Philadelphia, PA/Chestnut Hill). Craig Cetta reached on an error by shortstop Chris Smith (So., Fairfax Station, VA/Robinson) that allowed Morley to scamper home for a 1-0 JHU lead.
Spiciarch led off the third inning with a single and moved to second base on a single by Bryan Eberle to put two runners on with no outs. After F&M starting pitcher Jeremy Knox (So., Brooklyn, NY/Iona) struck out Tim Casale, Spiciarich stole third to put runners on the corners, and scored while Bryce Baumann, pinch-running for Eberle, went to third on a throwing error when Rob Morrison reached on a fielder's choice for a 2-0 lead.
Hopkins went in front 5-0 one batter later as Paul Winterling hit a fly ball that cleared the fence for a three-run homerun.
Franklin & Marshall mounted a comeback in the bottom of the fourth inning as Rob Georgiou (Sr., Tappan, NY/Bergen Catholic) singles and advanced to second on Scott Haft (Jr., Jupiter, FL/Jupiter) single. Following a sacrifice bunt by Dan Weber (Sr., Reading, PA/Governor Mifflin) to move the runners to third and second base, Gary Kruger (So., East Islip, NY/East Islip) took JHU starter Matt Righter's offering deep over the fence in right centerfield for his fourth for his fourth home run of the tournament which cut the Hopkins lead to 5-3.
Hopkins tacked on a run in the fifth as Morrison doubled and Morley walked before Nigro singled to drive in a run for a 6-3 lead.
The Jays added five runs in the sixth inning off F&M reliever Pete Maki (Sr., Woodbury, CT/Noonewaug) as Carl Ippolito singled and Spiciarich hit a long fly ball which sailed over the outfield fence. Following a strikeout of Eberle, Casale singled before stealing second and third to move into scoring position. Morrison singled to drive in Casale and Winterling lined a hit over the fence for a two run homer as JHU led 11-3 after the sixth inning.
Hopkins added four runs in the seventh as Ippolito was hit by a pitch and Spiciarich singled before a wild pitch advanced the runners to third and second, respectively. Eberle then lined a pitch over the fence in left-centerfield for a three run homer. Scott Solomon (Sr., Birmingham, AL/Mountain Brook) came out the bullpen for the Diplomats, but Casale singled, Morrison struck out looking and Winterling was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base with one out. Morley struck out looking for the second out of the inning, but Nigro singled to plate Casale before Craig Cetta fouled out to first base to end the inning as Hopkins held a 15-3 lead after seven and a half innings.
Franklin & Marshall mounted another comeback in the bottom of the seventh as a pitch hit Jon Compitello (So., Yardley, PA/George School) before he scored on a one out double by Smith. Georgiou walked and Weber reached first after being hit in the head by a pitch to put two runners on base. Kruger hit a ground ball to shortstop, as JHU first baseman Morley couldn't handle the throw as Smith scored. Georgiou scored on a wild pitch by Righter that allowed Weber and Kruger to move to third and second, respectively. Corey Caruthers (So., Conestoga, PA/Penn Manor) walked to load the bases and drive Righter from the game and force JHU coach to his bullpen. Breslau greeted Hopkins reliever Russ Berger with a two RBI single that allowed Weber and Kruger to score and cut Hopkins' lead to 15-8.
The Blue Jays got two more runs in the top of the eighth as Ippolito singled and Spiciarich hit a two run homer to move the margin back to 17-8.
Franklin & Marshall closed out the scoring in the bottom of the inning as Eric Milavsky (So., Medford, NJ/Shawnee) blasted a pitch from Berger out of the ballpark for the 17-9 final.
On the mound, Knox tossed five innings giving up six runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts to take the loss, while Maki allowed eight runs on seven hits in one inning of relief. Solomon threw the final three innings of the game allowing three runs on six hits and a walk with two strikeouts.
At the plate, Kruger went two-for-three with two runs, three runs batted in and a home run while Georgiou went two-for-four with a pair of runs.
For Hopkins, Righter earned the win going 6.2 innings with eight runs (four earned) on five hits and four walks with eight strikeouts. Berger closed out the contest tossing 2.1 innings with one earned run on three hits and a walk as Hopkins (36-1) won its fourth straight CC title.
Franklin & Marshall (24-19) will await word from the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) regarding a berth in the Conference's postseason tournament.
