Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 With the weather finally cooperating the John Carroll University baseball team and 10th-ranked Heidelberg squared off in a pivotal conference series. Both teams entered the day with identical 8-2 OAC records.
 
John Carroll led in both games but could not sustain the lead falling 10-7 and 6-2 on Thursday afternoon. Heidelberg improved to 25-5, 10-2 OAC while John Carroll fell to 16-10, 8-4 OAC.
 
Game One
Heidelberg answered John Carroll's 6-run fourth inning with six runs of its own en route to a 10-7 win  in the first game of the twin bill.
 
John Carroll took a 6-2 lead with a 4-run fourth inning. Jimmy Spagna and Chet Lauer both laced 1-out singles to tie the score. The Blue Streaks took the lead on Tyler Gentile's 3-run home run to left field, his first of the season. David Crowley drove in the final run of the inning after Mark Huddle drilled a 1-out triple to the fence in left.
 
The lead would not hold as the Student Princes would strike back with a 6-run inning of its own in the bottom of the fourth to take the 8-6 lead. Adam Hershberger drove in two runs with a double and was followed up by Eric Monroe's 2-run homer for the big runs of the inning.
 
Heidelberg jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning with four straight hits but freshman Mark Materise was able to get out of the jam with a 5-4-3 double play.
 
The Student Princes would score again in the fifth and sixth to open up the 10-6 lead.
 
John Carroll threatened to climb back into the game in the top of the eighth inning. Gentile singled to leadoff the inning and advanced to third on a Huddle double to put runners on second and third with no outs. Student Prince reliever Derek Hendrixson was able to work out of the jam and keep the 'Berg up by four runs.
 
Down to its last at bat Spagna looked to spark the offense back into the game rocketing his team-leading fourth homer of the season down the left field line with one out. Lauer would keep the rally going with a single but the Blue Streaks would be unable to complete the sweep.
 
Materise took the loss and fell to 3-2 on the season. The freshman fired 4 2/3 innings allowing 11 hits. Kyle Fluharty (5-0) picked up the win throwing five innings and allowing eight hits.
 
Finishing with multiple hits were Spagna, Lauer, Gentile and Huddle.
 
Game Two
In what started as a pitcher's duel between Andrew Doring and Adam Manner, John Carroll struck first but could not close out the game falling 6-2 in the second game.
 
John Carroll struck first in the top of the fourth inning. Looking for senior leadership Spagna hit a 1-out double which sent Mitchell Heringshaw to third base. Lauer drove in the first run of the contest with a sacrifice fly.
 
Heidelberg look poised to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth with two outs after Doring issued a 2-out walk to Joe Staab. The Blue Streaks defense stepped up with David Crowley and Lauer book ending the relay to retire Staab at the plate.
 
John Carroll would add an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning. Huddle led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on Crowley's sacrifice bunt. The junior came in to score on a 2-out single by Bobby Sabatino.
 
Heidelberg stormed back with a 4-run seventh inning to open up a 4-2 lead. Trevor Oldman ripped a double to right center to put the Student Princes on the board. The 'Berg would tie the game on a passed ball and take the lead on a Spagna error.
 
The Student Princes added two insurance runs in the eighth inning on a 2-run single by Staab.
 
Doring helped himself out in the first inning securing a liner right back to him for an easy 1-3 double play. The junior fired six strong innings only allowing three runs but fell to 1-1 on the season.
 
The 'Berg outhit JCU in the second game 8-6.
 
John Carroll faces a quick turnaround with a doubleheader at home versus Capital on Friday, April 18. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.