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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Jack Harmon
Maddie Maselko
Jack Harmon (#56) celebrates with Logan LaMere (#17) after scoring a run in JCU's game one victory over Marietta, their first over the Pioneers since 2019.
6
Marietta MAR-BB 24-10
15
Winner John Carroll JCUBB 21-10
Marietta MAR-BB
24-10
6
Final
15
John Carroll JCUBB
21-10
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Marietta MAR-BB 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 0 1 6 14 2
John Carroll JCUBB 0 0 0 0 0 3 6 6 X 15 17 3

W: Darrow, Henry (2-3) L: Kail Hill (8-2)

8
Winner Marietta MAR-BB 25-9
7
John Carroll JCUBB 21-11
Winner
Marietta MAR-BB
25-9
8
Final
7
John Carroll JCUBB
21-11
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
Marietta MAR-BB 1 0 0 5 0 0 0 1 0 1 8 13 1
John Carroll JCUBB 2 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 7 10 2

W: Zach Marzetz (3-0) L: Schumaker, Maxwell (1-2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Paul Raglow-DeFranco, Staff Writer

Baseball Battles Their Way to a Split With Marietta

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- With Ohio Athletic Conference placement on the line, the John Carroll baseball team went toe-to-toe with one of the nation's best in Marietta as they split their doubleheader matchup.

After falling behind twice in the first game, the Blue Streaks' resilience prevailed behind a 15-run outing to secure the 15-6 victory over the Pioneers. Game two provided plenty of scoring as well, however, the Blue Streaks were on the wrong side of an 8-7 game as Marietta needed an extra inning to defeat the Blue Streaks in 10.

Game One

Marietta came out of the gate swinging with some solid at bats. Following an error by the shortstop allowing Nick Bonnizzio to reach first, the Pioneers' Brett Carson singled to shortstop to put Bonnizz in scoring position. Moments later, a sacrifice bunt would allow both Carson and Bonnizzio to advance. With men on second and third and two outs, Blue Streak starter Matthew Aukerman delivered a crucial strikeout to end the scoring chance.

The next couple of innings brought much of the same action. Yet again, Marietta was threatening with runners in scoring position to begin the second and third inning. However, Aukerman was able to hold his own and escaped the innings without surrendering a run. Meanwhile, the Blue Streak offense struggled to find any type of offensive rhythm. Aside from Joe Olsavsky's double back in the first inning, the Blue Streaks were unable to get on base with back-to-back 1-2-3 innings in the second and third.

The scoring drought ended in the fourth courtesy of a solo-home run from Marietta's Cole Yeager. The Pioneers added onto their lead with an RBI single from Brett Carson to make the score 2-0. The offensive struggles continued for the Blue Streaks as they produced just three hits through four innings.

Following another Pioneer score to begin the sixth, the Blue Streak's answered with an offensive surge. Justin Hanley began the run with a single down the left field line, allowing Michael Persichetti to score. Sean Connolly would earn an RBI of his own bringing Olsavsky in for the score to cut the deficit to one. Following a Marietta pitching change as Kail Hill came in for Trent Valentine, Erik Daugenti would produce the Blue Streaks' third RBI single of the game to tie the game up at three apiece. 

Marietta responded with a couple runs of their own in the seventh to regain the lead. However, in the biggest series of the year, John Carroll was not going to go away quietly. With bases loaded and zero outs, Olsavsky doubled down the right field line to bring in two more John Carroll runs to tie the game up at 5-5. A few batters later, a sacrifice fly from Connolly would break the tie and give the Blue Streaks their first lead of the game. However, the scoring did not stop there. Following a Daugenti RBI single, Logan LaMere would double down the right field line resulting in an RBI double to bring the score to 9-5. 

As the Pioneers came up empty in the top of the eighth, the Blue Streaks would continue to pour it on with five more runs scored. LaMere would strike once more with yet another RBI double to stretch the lead. With bases loaded, Persichetti and Olsavsky would capitalize as they brought in two more Blue Streak scores to give John Carroll a resounding 15-5 lead. 

Marietta was able to muster one run in the top of the ninth but came well short of a comeback as they fell to John Carroll, 15-6 in game one. 

The 15 runs scored were the most ever for a JCU team against the Pioneers and first win over them since 2019. Additionally, in the fourth inning, LaMere threw out his 25th base runner of his career which established a new Blue Streak record.

Darrow pitched the final three innings in a winning effort and struck out four batters.

Game Two

Following a comeback win in the first game, the Blue Streaks found themselves in a similar situation as they were down early for the second straight game. Bonnizzio wasted no time getting on base with a single to center field during the first at bat of the game. Carson would do the same to put runners on first and third. A sacrifice fly from Ty Davis was enough to bring Bonnizzio home to give the Pioneers an early 1-0 lead. 

In the bottom of the first, John Carroll found themselves with bases loaded and two outs. Connolly would take advantage with a single to center field allowing Bryce Holt and Olsavsky to score to give the Blue and Gold a 2-1 lead. 

After the conclusion of a 45 minute rain delay in the middle of the third, the scoring would ramp up in the fourth inning. The Pioneers looked recharged following the rain delay as their first three batters all found their way on base. Matthew Busby would proceed to deliver an RBI single to tie the game up. Following a pitching change as Jamon Higley came in for Jon Ambro, the Pioneers proceeded to tack on four more runs. An RBI apiece from Bonnizzio and Carson would give them a two run edge. A sacrifice fly from Valentine would bring another run home and Carson would finish his phenomenal play with a steal to home to bring the score to 6-2.

Right when it looked like the deficit was insurmountable, Hanley came through with a three-run homer to left field to cut the Blue Streak deficit to one. 

The round tripper was the 22nd of Hanley's career, which tied Jim Wideikis' career record set back in 1999.

The Blue Streaks completed the comeback courtesy of an RBI single from Holt to even up the game at 6-6. Yet, the Blue Streaks did not stop there as they took advantage of a wild pitch from Marietta's Jacob Rocky allowing for Olsavsky to score and give the Blue Streaks a 7-6 advantage. The lead was short lived as Pioneer's Ty Davis delivered a clutch, game-tying RBI in the top of the eighth to tie the game up at 7-7.

The score would remain tied until the top of the tenth inning. Marietta's Brett Carson would triple to left center field, setting up Davis for the go-ahead RBI to give them an 8-7 lead. John Carroll's Maxwell Schumaker would deliver the third and final out via strikeout, setting up John Carroll for a walk-off win in extras.

However, Marietta had other plans as pitcher Zach Marzetz earned three groundouts in four Blue Streak batters.

Higley pitched four innings in relief of Ambro, allowing only three hits and one run while striking out two.

John Carroll will be back in action Saturday, April 29th as they travel to Wilmington to take on the Quakers in a doubleheader. The first game is set to begin at 1:00 P.M.
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