Baseball | 5/21/2023 3:36:00 PM
BALTIMORE, MD – The St. John Fisher University baseball team fell to No. 1 Johns Hopkins University, 8-2 in the 2023 NCAA Baltimore Championship game from from Babb Field at Strongberg Stadium on Sunday, May 21. The Cardinals, who advanced to Sunday's title game after two ninth-inning rallies yesterday, finish the season with a 32-14 mark. Johns Hopkins is now 42-4 and advances to the Super Regional series from May 26-28.
The Blue Jays opened the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the third inning on a three-run home run by Matthew Cooper. The Cardinals would immediately respond with a run in the top of the fourth inning, as Brian Norsen hit his fourth home run in just over 24 hours, a solo shot that would cut the Johns Hopkins lead to 3-1.
After a run by Johns Hopkins in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Cardinals would inch closer in the sixth inning, as Jake Crantz singled in Norsen, who walked, moved to second on a single by Dominic Guccia and advanced to third on a fielder's choice.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Johns Hopkins would come right back with four runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning on four hits and an error that led to a pair of unearned runs to make it 8-2.
St. John Fisher would try to chip away at the lead getting a runner on in each of the last three innings, but were unable to get any closer.
Johns Hopkins out-hit the Cardinals, 12-9. Crantz was 3-for-4 with a RBI, while Guccia had two hits and Norsen slammed his 12th home run of the season. Connor McHugh earned the start and took the loss, allowing five hits and four runs over 3 1/3 innings. Jason Wall pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for Fisher.
All nine starters had at least one hit for Johns Hopkins. Cooper was 2-for-5 with a homer, two runs scored and three RBI. Dillon Souvignier and Dylan Whitney each added two hits. Kieren Collins picked up the win on the mound, allowing six hits and two runs over 5 1/3 innings. Ben Keever and Jaspar Carmichael combined to keep the Cardinals off the board for the final 3 2/3 innings.
The Cardinals, who won the 2023 Empire 8 Championship last weekend, made their eighth appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
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