Baltimore, Md. (Feb. 29, 2016) - Johns Hopkins (1-1-1) got a 2-run homer in the seventh and an insurance run in the eighth in a 3-0 win over Alvernia University (0-3) Monday afternoon in non-conference baseball at Bob Babb Field.

The match-up of perennial regional qualifiers was scoreless through the first six innings.

Hopkins had the first credible threat with runners on the corners and one out.  After a strikeout, the runner from first stole second, but Alvernia starter Matt Backlund got out of the inning with a fly ball to center.

Alvernia put a pair of runners on in the top of the third, but coudln't score.  The Crusaders also had runners at the corners with one out, but a ground out and a strikeout stranded the runners.

Backlund retired 12 straight batters from the third through the sixth, while the Crusaders put runners on in the top half of each of those four innings.  Backlund handed the ball over Tim Carfrey in relief and the Jays welcomed him with a single to right to lead off the seventh.  They sacrificed the runner to second and junior catcher Ryan Orgielewicz broke the scorless tie wiht a two-run homer to left center.

Hopkins added an insurance run in the eighth with a leadoff triple and an RBI single to right.

Ben Dubas, who had a pair of hits for the Crusaders, opened the ninth with a single and Alvernia almost brought the tying run to the plate, but Ian Shaffer's bid for a hit up the middle caromed off the pitcher to the third baseman for the first out of the inning.  Hopkins finished the game with a strikeout and a fly ball to right.

Alvernia returns to action against Baruch for a doubleheader on Sunday in Ft. Myers, Florida.

Johns Hopkins 3, Alvernia 0