Technically, John Carroll's home schedule began on March 20. But the Blue Streaks had to wait until March 30 to play their "true" home opener at Schweickert Field against Notre Dame.

It proved to be worth the wait.

Ryan Pacyga (Forest Park, IL, Nazareth Academy) bases loaded double highlighted a six-run sixth inning that propelled John Carroll to a 11-7 win over its neighborhood rival from nearby South Euclid.

Box Score

Weather conditions moved the March 20 doubleheader with Medaille down to Kent State's Schoonover Stadium, but Tuesday's single game affair when off as scheduled. Both teams scored twice in the third and after four complete innings, John Carroll held a 4-3 advantage.

Trouble loomed in the fifth as Tony Younis -- following a hit batter and an error -- drilled a three-run homer to give the visitors a 6-4 lead.

The Blue Streaks waited until the bottom of the sixth to answer. With one on and one out, Matt Lindenberger (Erie, PA, Cathedral ) singled to set the table for John Hastings (Pittsburgh, PA, Fox Chapel), who would double home Ryan Konsler (Lake Forest, Lake Forest) to pull JCU to within 6-5. Later, with two on and two outs, Dominic Varacallo (DuBois, PA, DuBois Central Catholic) and Brian Benander (Richmond Heights, OH, Cleveland St. Ignatius) would draw back-to-back walks to force in a sixth run.

Pacyga, the reigning Ohio Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week, would then lace a 3-2 pitch over the head of the centerfielder to plate the go ahead runs. Pacyga later scored on a single by Tim O'Brien.

Tony Evanko (Mentor, OH, Mentor) and Michael Eden (Aurora, OH, Aurora) each worked a scoreless side in the eighth and ninth frame to preserve the victory.

Adam Jenkins (Amherst, NY, Amherst Central)(1-1) picked up the win for John Carroll, who improved to 9-6. Notre Dame slipped to 19-7 with the loss.