Box Score Finally getting a chance to compete outside the John Carroll University baseball team opened its season on Friday afternoon in Beckley, W.Va.

Starting the game with offensive fireworks in two homeruns, John Carroll could not keep the offensive alive falling 8-7 to Case Western Reserve University in the 2014 opener.

Trailing 5-4 in the middle of the eighth inning, the Blue Streaks allowed the Spartans to plate three runs in the before trying to mount a furious comeback in the ninth.

Jimmy Spagna, a 2013 D3baseball.com Honorable Mention All-America selection, started his 2014 season by crushing a 2-run homer on the first pitch of the at bat in the top of the first inning to give the Blue and Gold the early 2-0 lead.

David Crowley padded John Carroll's lead to three in the top of the second inning. The sophomore who entered the season with one career home run (against Case Western Reserve) blasted a solo shot off of Spartan starter Kevin Johnstone. The Blue Streaks would chase the Spartans' starter after three innings as Spagna plated his third run of the game with a 2-out double to center which brought in Mitchell Herringshaw in the top of the third to make it 4-0 JCU.

After cruising through the first two innings and getting help from his defense with a 6-4-3 double play, the Spartans got to starter Aaron Lapaglia in the third inning. Mike Ilacqua put Case Western Reserve on the board brining in Jordan Dague who tripled to lead of the frame.

The Spartans added one more run in the fourth inning before exploding for a 3-run frame in the bottom of the fifth inning to take the lead. Case Western Reserve strung together three consecutive hits from William Meador, Zach Tobias and Andrew Gronski to take the 5-4 lead.

Junior Tyler Ferretti pitched two one-two-three innings in relief of Lapaglia before running in to a jam in the bottom of the eighth inning. After giving up a leadoff homer to Zach Tobias, Ferretti allowed four of the next five Spartans to reach base before Bobby Sabatino helped his pitcher out by turning JCU's second double play of the game.

John Carroll looked to climb back into the game in the top of the ninth inning. Down to its last out Herringshaw and Spagna kept the inning alive with back-to-back doubles which plated two runs. Chet Lauer reached via an error putting the tying run on base. However the Blue Streaks could not get the run in as Mark Huddle flied out to end the game.

Spagna finished the day 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, and four RBIs for the Blue Streaks. Lapaglia was charged with the loss allowing five runs in five innings of work.

Tobias paced the Spartans with two hits and two RBIs while Jake Shields picked up the win with 3.2 innings of scoreless relief.

The Blue Streaks finish their weekend in West Virginia on Saturday with a doubleheader against Allegheny beginning at noon.