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Continuing one of the most historic seasons in John Carroll University baseball history, the Blue Streaks (24-15) return to Marietta fresh off of winning its first-ever OAC Tournament inside Don Schaly Stadium. Overall, John Carroll returns to the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in program history on the heels of the 30th anniversary of the first team to make the field, the 1984 squad.

JCU continues its storybook season opening play against Salisbury at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14.

The Blue Streaks clinched their berth in the 56-team field with a dominating performance in the OAC Tournament. JCU started the 3-day tournament with a lights out offensive performance topping Heidelberg 13-7 to win its OAC Tournament opener for the first time since 2001.

On Friday, John Carroll warded off the Etta Express with tournament MVP Tyler Gentile breaking through with a 3-run homer in the top of the ninth inning. The win sent John Carroll to its first championship round of the tournament since 1998, head coach Marc Thibeault's senior year.

The Blue and Gold appeared to have the tournament in hand with a 9-7 lead with one out in the ninth inning. Mother Nature had other plans.

After a 2 hour and 25 minute rain delay, Baldwin Wallace rallied for three runs to set up the winner-takes-all game. Freshman Mark Materise and sophomore Aaron Lapaglia rose to the challenge holding the potent Yellow Jacket offense to three runs on 11 hits clinching the tournament.

With its record standing at 5-6 after returning from Florida, John Carroll stormed out of the gates in Ohio winning 10 of its first 11 games in the Buckeye State. Along the way the Blue Streaks handed Thibeault his 289th win, the most in JCU baseball history on March 31.

Officially clinching its berth in the OAC Tournament with a first game win over Muskingum on May 4, the Blue and Gold capped the sweep by winning Thibeault's 300th game as the mentor of his alma mater.

Joining John Carroll and Salisbury in Marietta are Marietta, Case Western Reserve, Widener, La Roche, Thomas More and PSU-Berks. For a scouting report of all of the opposition in the Marietta Mideast Regional click here.

At the plate John Carroll will continue to follow the BASE2 approach meaning big inning, answer back, score first, extend the lead and 2-out RBIs.

JCU will count on Gentile and Chet Lauer to spark the offense. Gentile, the OAC Tournament MVP, finished 9-for-18 with two homers and nine RBIs over the 3-day tournament. The third baseman leads the OAC with a .500 on base percentage. Lauer had an equally impressive OAC Tournament hitting a team-best .588 and finishing with nine runs scored and seven RBIs.

Looking to help Gentile and Lauer out will be Bobby Sabatino (.421 at OAC Tournament) and Jimmy Spagna (.389 at OAC Tournament).

On the mound Thibeault will turn to Lapaglia (8-3, 3.81) and Brandon Maddern (6-2, 3.17) to have strong starts and provide depth to keep the bullpen fresh for a hopeful deep tournament run.

John Carroll was lights out in Marietta last week. The Blue Streaks hope an extended Mideast Regional stay awaits them this week at Don Schaly Stadium.

Live stats, live video and live audio will be available from Don Schaly Stadium.