Although he was called on to play defense, Aaron Miller provided a memorable offensive moment with this swing against Mount Union
Aaron Miller entered the second game of today's doubleheader as a defensive replacement, but ended it as an offensive hero.
Miller's two-out single scored pinch runner
Patrick Fallon to cap a four-run ninth inning, delivering a 9-8 victory for the home squad that not only polished off a sweep of the Mount Union Purple Raiders, but propelled John Carroll into sole possession of first place in the Ohio Athletic Conference.
Box Scores:
Game One /
Game Two
Tony Evanko was the story of game one, as he allowed three hits and one unearned run in five innings as John Carroll cruised to a 4-2 win.
All the offense Evanko needed was supplied in the second inning, when Johnny Hastings crushed a two-run doubles and
John Skomra followed with a single to score Hastings.
From there, Evanko,
Chris Koller and
Michael Eden would keep the Purple Raiders at bay. Evanko improved to 2-1 on the year while Eden picked up his third save.
Game two featured several big momentum swings. The biggest seemed to occur in the top of the seventh inning, when Nick Elliot smashed a three-run homer for Mount Union off the top of the scoreboard in right field. Elliot's blast gave the visiting Purple Raiders an 8-5 lead.
That advantage held up until the bottom of the ninth. Still trailing 8-5,
Tim O'Brien started things off with a seemingly innocuous walk.
Brian Benander followed with a single, and then
Ryan Pacyga drew a walk to load the bases.
A pitching change was made, but an error on a ball put in play by
Bryan Robinett (who had homered earlier in the contest) drew JCU to within two runs at 8-6.
Tom Hickey then came through with a two-run single to tie the game at 8-8.Just as important, he was able to move the potential game-winning run to third base with less than two outs.
Mount Union got the second out, but Miller -- who did not see time all afternoon until he came on to play catcher in the top of the ninth inning of game two -- would rip a single to right center to drive home the winning tally.
John Moonan, who worked two scoreless innings of relief, picked up the win.
JCU is now 20-9 on the year, and stands alone in first place in the OAC -- one game ahead of Otterbein and Heidelberg in the standings.
Mount Union slips to 15-14 and 5-7.
