Game One

Offensive output in most categories was no issue for the Blue Streaks, except for scoring runs. JCU registered 20 hits against the Mount Union Purple Raiders but only manufactured five runs, leaving 18 total runners on base throughout the entirety of the game. Mount Union handed John Carroll their fourth consecutive conference loss of the season with an 11-5 defeat of the Blue and Gold.

Senior Nate Wenson started on the mound for the Blue Streaks, only allowing four hits and one run throughout the first four innings. The Purple Raiders took the early 1-0 advantage in the third as Mount Union's Goodall hit an RBI single.

The Blue Streaks answered back with three runs in the fourth and fifth innings, with two of those runs coming in the top of the fifth off a single by freshman Justin Hanley.

Wenson managed the fifth inning, only allowing one hit and one run as JCU took the 3-2 advantage into the top of the sixth inning.
  
With the slight advantage, the Blue Streaks offense stalled only notching one hit in the sixth inning. Mount Union fired up the engine — scoring three runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth  — taking the 5-3 lead. That ended Wenson's day, as he finished with 5.1 innings pitch, four strikeouts, and five earned runs. He was credited with the loss, moving his record to 3-2 on the season.

Junior Cameron Mayle relieved Wenson, pitching 0.2 innings and allowing no runs.

A one hit top of the seventh inning by the Blue Streaks would once again work in the favor of the Purple Raiders, as they scored their remaining six runs in the bottom half of the set taking an 11-3 lead. Freshman pitcher Jack Bennett allowed all six runs earned, pitching 1.0 innings.

The Blue and Gold caught a late wind in the eighth and ninth innings, as Zawadzki reached on a fielder's choice in the eighth notching an RBI and Keohane singled to center, generating another run.

Sophomore Kasey Anzelc closed out the day on the hill, pitching an inning while allowing two hits and striking out two batters.

Freshman Matthew Springer had a strong day at the plate in game one, going 4-for-5, and also scoring a run. Keohane, senior Dominic Mittiga, and junior David Ferguson each contributed three hits; Keohane had two RBI's.

The second hit by Keohane was his 200th hit of his career, making him just five hits away from being number one in program history, this wasn't the last milestone that Keohane would accomplish today.

 

Game Two

The Blue Streaks took their offensive momentum from game one into game two with a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Hanley doubled to right field, scoring the trio of Zawadzki, Mittiga, and Penman.

Mount Union did not wait long to respond to the strong Blue and Gold start, scoring a run in the first inning. That would be all the Purple Raiders were able to muster, as JCU led 3-1 after the first.

John Carroll still had plenty of gas left in the tank and senior Derek Penman was the one to put the foot on the accelerator. He added two RBI's in the second and fourth innings with a sacrifice fly and a single, respectively.

Zawadzki kept the pressure on Mount Union, with a two RBI single scoring Penman and Keohane. With Keohane crossing the plate, he became the sole leader in all-time runs scored at John Carroll University.

This was Patrick Keohane's 142nd run of his career, placing him in the top spot in program history in runs.

The Blue Streaks did not stop there, as Ferguson put an exclamation point on the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly which put JCU ahead 8-1.

Being down seven runs did not sit well with Mount Union, as the Purple Raiders added their second run of the day making the score 8-2.

The man of the hour, Keohane, notched an RBI single in the fifth inning providing JCU with their largest lead of the day of 7 runs at 9-2. 

Mount Union continued to fight and claw their way back into the contest, scoring three runs between the fifth and sixth innings cutting the deficit to four runs.

Following the fifth inning, Merrill received the message that his day was over. He allowed eight hits, four earned runs but struck out four batters.

Freshman Tate Larrance received the call from the bullpen going only 0.2 innings, allowing two hits, walking two batters, and surrendering an earned run.

Sophomore Nicholas Michel was next up on call for the Blue Streaks in the bullpen and he proved to be the answer. He came in with the bases loaded and struck out the batter to end the inning.

In the eighth inning the Blue Streaks added to their advantage with a David Ferguson 2-run double.  Then Justin Hanley and Sam Heaton traded RBI singles to increase the JCU lead.

Patrick Keohane doubled home John Bondi to make the score 14-5.  This was Keohane's 206th career hit, another program record for Keohane who broke the program record for runs earlier in the day.

Then, things got interesting in the bottom of the eighth.  After John Carroll secured the first out they would go on to allow seven runs to score.  After the seventh run scored, the game was called due to darkness. The John Carroll center fielder had a ball fall close to a foot in front of him without ever seeing the ball.  The umpires decided that after that play it was no longer safe to keep playing.

The shorten game ended with the Blue Streaks on top 15-12 over the Purple Raiders to earn a crucial win in OAC play.

"It feels great to reach these milestones" said Keohane, "it all starts with the guys around me for these last 4 years."

Patrick Keohane was the shining star in game two by delivering a 5-6 day at the dish.  Justin Hanley started to find his grove in OAC play as well by going 3-5 with 4 RBIs.

"Nothing changes going forward" continued Keohane, "we still will be working for our goal of the OAC championship."

"The guys responded well to losing the first game on the road" said coach Ryan Nordquist and, "You always want to be playing your best baseball at the end of the year."

John Carroll moves to 20-10 on the year and with a 8-4 record remains just one game behind Baldwin Wallace for first place in the OAC. 

John Carroll will play at Westerville, Ohio this Friday against OAC rival Otterbein, who sits one game behind the Blue Streaks in conference play.