John Carroll baseball fell behind in the second inning on Thursday and was unable to overcome the deficit, losing game one of the 2017 OAC Tournament to Mount Union, 5-0, in Alliance, Ohio.

The Blue Streaks (18-21) will play in an elimination game on Friday at 12:30 p.m. at 23rd Street Field.

JCU managed four hits against UMU starter Phil Mary, who pitched a complete game shutout. Two of those hits came off the bat of Dominic Mittiga. Matthew Donnelly and Patrick Scholla each recorded a base hit, with Patrick Keohane reaching safely once by walk.

Fred Moore (L, 4-5) turned in his second straight quality start, allowing just three runs in six innings. Steven Virost and Carter Semancik each threw an inning of relief for JCU.

UMU scored their first run on a bases-loaded walk in the second inning. In the sixth, the Purple Raiders plated a pair on a RBI single and a sacrifice fly. Two more runs scored in an identical way in the seventh, on a single and sacrifice fly.

JCU threatened in the top of the seventh, but a pair of runners were left stranded in scoring position. Another pair of runners stood on second and third in the ninth inning following leadoff walks, but the Purple Raiders ended the game on a line out to shortstop.

John Carroll plays Marietta College in an elimination game on Friday afternoon. The winner of that game will play the loser of Mount Union and Otterbein on Friday at 4 p.m. If John Carroll wins both games on Friday, they will advance to the OAC Championship series on Saturday. With one loss, the Blue Streaks will head home.