The long awaited true home opener for the Blue Streak baseball team showed late fireworks, but ultimate demise in a home doubleheader against the top of the conference.

The OAC-best Otterbein Cardinals (24-9, 12-3) topped the Blue Streaks (16-16, 7-8 OAC) at Schweikert Field on Saturday afternoon, as both teams see results towards postseason aspirations.

Otterbein topped JCU in both games of the twin bill, winning the first game by a score of 4-3 and winning the second by a 8-5 final.

JCU showed a bright future, as sophomore Joe Charpantier went 4-for-5 in game two with two RBI, and freshman Mike McCarty went 2-for-3 in the opening game.

Game 1: The Blue and Gold were led by a young freshman unit as Michael Anderson, Sam Heaton and Azim Qadri all contributed to two of the Blue Streaks' three runs in the 4-3 game one loss.

Freshman pitcher John Merrill pitched the bulk of the day, tossing 5.1 innings and striking out four batters.

JCU was held to one run in the first and second innings. The Blue Streaks made their mark on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third, as junior Dominic Mittiga had an RBI-single on the right field side, scoring junior Patrick Keohane.

Freshman Adam Stoler tied the game for Otterbein with a homerun over the right field wall.  The Cardinals continued to counter in the top of the fifth, adding two more runs before the end of the inning.

Otterbein picked right up where they left off in the sixth, scoring another run to take ahold of the 4-1 lead.

JCU had an active seventh inning as they looked towards cutting down Otterbein's three run lead. Junior Derek Penman and Qadri walked to start the inning. Anderson then knocked in Penman, and the Blue Streaks cut the lead to two. Sophomore Aaron Zawadzki grounded out to end the inning, leaving two men left on base.

In the bottom of the ninth, the outcome was eerily similar to the seventh. Penman walked in the opening at-bat, and Qadri stepped up to the plate and notched his first career hit. Freshman Sam Heaton made a pinch-hit appearance grounding out to shortstop, but scored Penman to cut the deficit to one run.

Cardinals pitcher sophomore Collin Hoffman was efficient for Otterbein pitching the final two innings. Hoffman struck out Keohane swinging earning the save, as JCU left the tying run on base to lose game one 4-3.

Sophomore Cameron Mayle closed out the day on the mound, pitching 3.2 innings. Mayle only allowed one hit and struck out one of his 12 batters.

Craig Prince of Otterbein received the win, tossing 7.0 innings and only allowing five hits.

JCU gathered seven total hits in game one, but the Blue Streaks also left a total seven runners on base.

Game 2:  The Cardinals picked up once again right where they left off in game one and started scoring nearly immediately in game two. Senior Bryan Stopar entertained a one run lead in the top of the first, with an RBI double to right center. Otterbein held the one run lead at the end of the inning.

The Blue Streaks only had one hit within the first three innings, limiting any offensive production from the Blue and Gold early on.

Otterbein was held hitless by freshman starting pitcher Duncan Cappar in the second and third innings, but they saved all their offensive energy for the fourth inning.

The Cardinals exploded for a six run, seven hit inning to gain a 7-0 advantage. Senior Justin Feltner began the scoring affair for the Cardinals, with senior Mitch Stotler adding two RBI with a double down the left field line.

Cappar's day was finished with a four inning day, as he allowed eight hits and seven runs.

JCU had a chance at scoring runs in the sixth inning as Keohane and Zawadzki both reached base, but they would not cross home plate. The Blue Streaks left both men on base at the conclusion of the inning.

The Cardinals added their eighth run in the eighth inning, to establish an 8-0 lead heading into the bottom of the inning.

Then, the rally began.

The Blue and Gold started the bottom of the eighth with back-to-back groundouts, but that did not close out the inning. Mittiga walked to earn the first Blue Streak man on base. Senior Monroe Donnelly followed and reached on a single up the middle to provide JCU with two men on base.

Charpentier started the scoring run for the Blue Streaks, with a two-out two RBI single. Otterbein starter Stevie Yuran's day was complete at 7.2 innings after allowing Charpentier to reach base and score two runs. Yuran finished the day only allowing five hits and two earned runs, but struck out ten batters.

Penman, and freshman Mike McCarty added onto the scoring affair to contribute to the four run inning.

JCU refused to let up as they continued to reach base and occupy all three bases to load them. Keohane singled to the shortstop, and junior Max Argento scored to add the fifth and final run of the inning.

Otterbein used four pitchers in the extended inning as Jake Walters, Jaryd Murphy, and Collin Hoffman all put forth their best effort towards shutting down JCU's offense.

JCU attempted to extend their rally to the ninth inning loading the bases again, but their two hits would not be enough. The Cardinals captured the second game of the day with an 8-5 win against the Blue Streaks.

Freshman Nick D'Angelo was the savior of the day for JCU, providing the Blue and Gold with 5.0 innings only allowing two hits, one run, and only walking one batter.

The Blue Streaks will travel to the College of Wooster for a single-game 1 p.m. matinee against the Fighting Scots.