First they had to sit and wait in their hotel rooms until 2:00 p.m. before they would be able to board the bus to travel to Linda K. Epling Stadium in Beckley, West Virginia.

Then, because of the wait, their plans to play a doubleheader today had to be scrapped in favor of playing just one game.

But Nathaniel Wenson made the wait worth the while. His start and Duncan Cappar's finish helped the Blue Streaks earn a shutout in their season-opening game of the 2019 campaign.

It was the first time JCU has began the year with a shutout since 2010, and is the fifth time overall (1974, 1975, 2001, 2010, 2019)

John Carroll scored first in the bottom of the fourth inning to break up the 0-0 pitching duel.  The Gators tried to answer back in the top of the fifth, but Wenson put on a Houdini act and escaped a bases loaded no out jam without allowing a run.

Cappar came into the game in the sixth inning with the score still sitting at 1-0.  Cappar would be lights out from there, not allowing a run to complete the 12-out save. One big out was in the top of the seventh when Allegheny had a runner on second with two outs and John Carroll right fielder Derek Penman made a diving catch on a liner in the gap to save a run.

The offense was a little slow at the start but pickup pace toward the end of the game.  With a bases loaded walk, Sam Heaton drove in a run to move the score to 2-0.

Freshman Justin Hanley came through with a clutch at bat as he ripped a double down the right field line to score pinch runner John Bondi from first to make it a 3-0 game.

Aaron Zawadzki singled up the middle with two outs to score the fourth run of the game in the seventh inning.  Cappar got out of a jam in the top of the eighth, getting a two on and two out fly out to center fielder Christian Cassaro.

Joe Charpentier would provide some fireworks in the bottom of the eighth when he doubled off the wall in left center to start off the bottom of the eighth.  With two outs, Hanley delivered once again as he doubled down the right field line to bring him home the fifth and final run for the Blue Streaks.

Cappar would allow a base runner to get on to start of the ninth but struck out the next two and got the 12th out to his save when Dom Mittiga snagged a liner to end the game.

The pitchers worked very hard this winter to be prepared for games like these," said JCU pitching coach Tyler McCormick. "They did a good job executing the pitches. Nate came in with a mindset to get into a groove and throw strikes and let his defense make the plays behind him""

For Wenson, who primarily has served as a reliever over his first three seasons, made his fourth career start count. He was especially happy with how he handled his most stressful situation in the fifth inning.

"Every pitcher gets a little nervous in that situation, but I knew I had good guys behind me so I threw strikes and it worked out," said Wenson.

The Blue Streaks will play Allegheny tomorrow at 10 a.m. and the second game will follow soon after.