Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Jack Harmon
Jack Harmon (#56) crosses home plate after his home run.
2
John Carroll JCU 28-15
3
Winner Aurora AURORA 40-4
John Carroll JCU
28-15
2
Final
3
Aurora AURORA
40-4
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
John Carroll JCU 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 1
Aurora AURORA 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 X 3 8 0

W: J. Fisher (9-1) L: Darrow, Henry (4-4) S: C. Garcia (5)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Jake Vulinec, Staff Writer

Aurora Wins Pitching Duel in JCU's First Game of NCAA Tournament

AURORA, Ill. – The John Carroll baseball team played in their first NCAA Regional Game since 2014, as they faced the Aurora Spartans in Game One in a best-of-five series. The contest was a complete pitchers duel, but the Blue Streaks found themselves on the wrong end of a 3-2 ballgame. 

Despite the game lacking offense, the scoring began in the top of the first. Jack Fisher recorded two quick outs, but Justin Hanley launched a first pitch, no doubt bomb to left-center field to give John Carroll the 1-0 lead. 

JCU wouldn't wait too long to build on their lead. Jack Harmon made solid contact in his first at-bat, but it was caught near the warning track in center field. In the top of the fourth, Harmon would get another go at it, and this time he went the extra distance. The right hander powered a ball to the opposite field and cleared the wall. An hour away from his hometown, the Evergreen Park native pushed the lead to two.

The Spartans are a team that are near impossible to keep off the board, scoring more than ten runs per game this season. They would find the board in the fifth. Collin Meinert and Nico Berman both singled, and then with two out, Jacob Ambuel would have a base knock of his own. Ambuel's single cut the lead in half, 2-1. 

The very next inning, Jett Wedekind laced a double down the left field line to start the frame. A walk and soft ground out brought Tyler Patton to the dish with runners on second and third. A deep fly ball into right field from the freshman was caught for the second out, but was far enough to serve as a sacrifice fly and the game's tying run in the sixth inning. 

That was the last inning for Matthew Aukerman, who had a great day on the bump. The senior allowed just two runs on six hits across six innings of work. He left the game with no opportunity to earn the win, as it was tied, 2-2.

Henry Darrow took over and only allowed a base runner in his first inning of relief. However, he wasn't as fortunate in the eighth inning. Justin Sartori led things off to begin the inning and he got a high fastball that he drove the other way. With the help of a strong, outward blowing wind, the ball cleared the outfield fence and broke the tie. Aurora led, 3-2.

Fisher pitched 8.1 innings, only allowing the two solo shots. In the ninth, he gave up a single and got a strikeout before being pulled. Carlos Garcia only faced one batter in relief and forced a double play to win the game, earning the save.

The Blue Streaks are still searching for their first NCAA Regional win in program history and will have another crack at it on Saturday, May 20 in a doubleheader with the Spartans. The first game is scheduled to begin at 11:00am CT (12:00pm EST). 
Print Friendly Version

Sponsors