Box Scores: Game 1 vs. Rose-Hulman  /  Game 2 vs. Rose-Hulman

It was a down-and-up day for the Blue Streaks after their scheduled off day in Florida, letting an early lead slip away in game one before pounding out a win in game two to split a doubleheader with Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Thursday at Tinker Stadium in Orlando.

John Carroll built a 5-2 lead against the Engineers, but were unable to hold off a late rally in what would become a 7-5 loss.

The big blows would come in the sixth inning off starter Brandon Kurtz. After holding Rose-Hulman two just two runs on five hits (four of which were in the first inning), an error would proivde the impetus for the flood gates to open.

Rose-Hulman senior Adam Decker would follow with a two-run home run that closed the gap to 5-4. After a third batter reached on a single, Marty Smith came in to relieve Kurtz. Smith got two outs, but then gave up a bases-loaded two-run double to freshman pinch hitter Michael Kovacs.

JCU had a chance to get back into the game after the first two batters reached dafely in the bottom of the sixth inning, but reliever Sam Deters would settled down and strike out three in a row to end the threat.

The Engineers added an insurance run in the seventh.

Smith took his second hard-luck loss in as many outings, while Kurtz did not get a decision after pitching five innings and striking out four. Ryan Lewis (double, two runs) and Dan Sabella each had a pair of hits, while Bryan Robinett had a double and two RBI as part of a nine-hit attack.

There was a bit of hangover effect in game two, as Rose-Hulman jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning.  Senior Matt Fort would settle down, however, and gain command of the game. He allowed only one unearned run over the next six innings for his second win of the season as John Carroll cruised to a 10-5 victory.

Still, it took some late-inning magic to support Fort's efforts. JCU was still down down 3-2 in the top of the sixth with runners on second and thirrd when freshman John Hastings came through. His key two-out single scored Tim O'Brien and Sabella, giving JCU a 4-3 lead.  Lewis would follow with another single that scored Hastings.

The seventh inning provided insurance thanks to five more runs scoring. Robinett doubled home two runs, while Mike Carbo, Sabella and Hastings each drove in single runs on single base hits.

Fort pitched a complete game, striking out four while walking only one. He allowed eight hits and five runs (three earned) as John Carroll improved to 5-2 on its visit to the Russmatt Classic with two games remaining.