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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Thomas Bates vs. Denison 5-7-26
Joe Ginley
Thomas Bates
11
John Carroll Univ. JCU 21-17
13
Winner Denison Univ. DEN 38-1
John Carroll Univ. JCU
21-17
11
Final
13
Denison Univ. DEN
38-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
John Carroll Univ. JCU 1 0 0 0 8 0 0 2 0 11 13 0
Denison Univ. DEN 2 1 0 3 1 0 6 0 X 13 17 3

W: Marrs, Cooper (5-0) L: Miller, Austin (4-4) S: Parker, Devin (5)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Joe Ginley '16, SID

Despite Huge Inning, Baseball Can't Upset #1 Denison in NCAC Tournament Opener

The Blue Streaks posted an 8-run 5th inning, but the Big Red bats were too much to handle

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – A monster inning was not enough to topple the giant. 

Despite a memorable 8-run fifth frame, John Carroll Baseball could not upend Denison University, the #1 seed in the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament and #1 team in NCAA Division III, in the tournament opener.

JCU's pitching couldn't hold up against a deadly Denison lineup, as JCU lost 13-11 at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe on Thursday afternoon.

The Blue Streaks most certainly gave Denison a run for their money, scoring the second-most runs allowed in a game this season by the Big Red. But JCU could not contain a Denison squad that ranks fourth in the nation in runs scored and batting average. 

John Carroll got on the board for starters in the first inning. A 2-out Denison error allowed the first run of the game to score. But the Big Red quickly replied with a 2-run frame to steal the lead. 

A 3-run bomb over the wall in right field by Denison in the fourth frame seemed to seize all the air out of the game for JCU, and led Bobby Bell to turn to the bullpen, trailing 6-1. But after Drew Walker got out of the inning, the Blue Streaks responded with a whopper of a fifth inning.

A Jordan Suvak bunt single and a Jake Monaco walk with one out got it going. Ethan Glossa walked before George Haracz took a hit by pitch for the first run. Thomas Bates then singled through the right side for the second run. Denison got the second out of the inning after a pitching change, and that's when the real fun began.

Chris Bach beat out a dribbler to third base on a hustle play. Konner Hauck then managed an infield single of his own for the tying run. A perfectly placed Dylan Sowers double down the right field line scored Bach, the go-ahead run, and set two runners in scoring position for Suvak. Batting around, the senior sliced a single to right, critically placing JCU ahead, 9-6. Following a pitching change, the Big Red finally stopped the bleeding.

The 8-spot by JCU marked the most runs allowed in an inning by Denison since April 13, 2023 when Marietta scored 10 runs in the fifth inning of a victory over the Big Red. 

Unfazed, the Big Red replied with a run in the sixth. The seventh inning proved to be worse, as Denison stole the lead back with a 6-run frame. A 2-run homer over the wall in right spurred the hit parade, which continued until the Blue Streaks trailed, 13-9, with just six outs to give. 

In the eighth, the Blue Streaks started to trim the deficit, getting another 2-out rally going. A Monaco infield single was followed by an Ethan Glossa double. Haracz slotted a single to right field to plate a run. A Bates infield single to short got Glossa home to slim the margin further to just two runs. 

John Carroll got the tying run aboard in the ninth with the top of the lineup up with 2 outs in the ninth, as Konner Hauck singled to start the inning and a Denison error prolonged things. But the Big Red escaped. 

Eight of JCU's nine starters tabbed hits, including Bates notching three. Bach, Hauck, and Suvak all registered two hits. 

Next Up
John Carroll will face the loser of DePauw and Wittenberg on Friday at 1:30 pm. The winner stays alive to play again on Friday, while the loser goes home. 
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