A program best was set on Wednesday. Another was matched.
 
The John Carroll University baseball team topped Hiram 10-6 in its home opener. The win pushed the Blue Streaks' record to a program-best 12-3. Additionally, the JCU diamond men won their 10th straight game tying the program record.
 
Previously, John Carroll started 11-3 in both 2006 and 2008. The Blue Streaks reached 10 consecutive wins for the third time. John Carroll previously won 10 straight games from April 5-19, 1988 and the first 10 contests of the 2006 season.

"It's a tribute to our kids," said head coach Marc Thibeault. "They work hard and want to play. They bring a really great culture (to the program). As long as they can do those things win or lose, I'm happy. Obviously now the win side is higher than the loss side and hopefully that can help their momentum to keep understanding what we're doing and continue to work hard."

Working on "staff day", junior Aaron Lapaglia (3-0) was lights out in his four innings of work. The right-hander allowed two hits while striking out nine. Sophomore Mark Materise picked up his second save of the year. Materise fired 2 2/3 innings of relief allowing one run on four hits.
 
Said Thibeault, "Aaron did a great job. He was super sharp and kept the ball low. His breaking ball was very, very effective. It kept Hiram off balance. It was a really strong, solid performance. We wanted to go four (innings) with him and keep his pitch count around 50. We were able to accomplish that which was really good to see."
 
John Carroll quickly jumped on the scoreboard in the first to give its right-hander early support. Three of the first four batters singled to give the Blue Streaks the early 1-0 lead. Tyler Gentile singled to right driving in Rob Cifelli for the game's first run.
 
The Blue Streaks extended their lead to 3-0 in the second. David Lykens, the second batter of the inning, laced a double to right-center to drive in Mike Raschilla. Lykens made the score 3-0 when the first baseman scored on Mark Pisanello's fielder's choice.
 
Hiram cut John Carroll's lead to one in the top of the fifth. The Terriers did their damage with two outs in the frame. Ty Walchanowicz plated the first run for Hiram coming in to score on a wild pitch. Jeff Segal made the contest a one-run affair lacing a single to left.
 
John Carroll answered right back with a four-run fifth. Raschilla had the big hit of the inning, as the freshman third baseman ripped a two-out three-run double into right center. The hit made the score 7-2. Earlier in the inning Bobby Sabatino brought in Pisanello on a RBI groundout.
 
Hiram struck for three in the seventh to make it a two-run game. Segal drove in his second run of the contest drilling a triple to the fence in right center. Hiram would add its other two runs on a fielder's choice by Ron DeAmicis and a two-out single from Kyle Watson.
 
The Blue Streaks got two of the runs back in the bottom of the frame. Raschilla recorded his fourth RBI on the day. The third baseman punched a one-out single through the left side. Lykens made the score 9-5 bringing in Gentile on a fielder's choice.

Said Thibeault, "We're looking for a six-hole hitter. We decided last weekend to kind of move Mike there. He's been hitting ninth and has had some pretty good at bats. He hasn't had a lot to show for it in terms of numbers but good doesn't really made a difference to me. We thought his approach was pretty good so we slid him up. It was a great job going backside in that situation (with the bases loaded). He drove all three runs in. Then, he had another RBI later in the game. Good for him. The kid works hard and deserves it."
 
David Crowley rounded out the scoring legging out a two-out double in the eighth. The hit scored Cifelli on the play.
 
Raschilla led JCU at the plate, completing the day 3-for-4 with four RBI.
 
Hiram fell to 4-11 with the loss.
 
The Blue Streaks return to action on Saturday, March 28. John Carroll is set to host Wilmington in an OAC doubleheader. First pitch from Schweickert Field is set for 1 p.m.