Box Scores: Game 1 vs. Muskingum  /  Game 2 vs. Muskingum

John Carroll pounded out 19 runs and 21 hits in sweeping Ohio Athletic Conference rival Muskingum College Thursday afternoon at Schweickert Field.

The Blue Streaks won game one over the Muskies, 8-5, then led wire-to-wire in an 11-2 romp in the nightcap.

JCU forged an early advantage in game on by scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning with the benefit of just a single base hit. After Ryan Lewis led off with a single, the Blue Streaks used two hit batsmen and two walks to build an early 2-0 lead.

Muskingum would rally in the top of the third inning with three runs. The key to the uprising was a two-out two-run single by Seth Sibert that put the Muskies on top 3-2.

John Carroll answered in its half of the frame thanks to an RBI single by Adam Sockel. Matthew Pangallo, who had singled earlier in the inning, scored the go-ahead run on an errant throw.

The Muskies tied the score at 4-4 with an unearned run in the top of the fourth, but JCU had another answer. A bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Bryan Robinett untied the game, and a Pangallo RBI single made the score 6-4 after four full innings.

Muskingum tried to respond in the top of the fifth. With a run already in and two runners on, JCU reliever Marty Smith came in and slammed the door on the threat with a one-pitch final out to preserve a 6-5 lead.

Smith would dominate in his final two innings of work, allowed just one hit in collecting his third save. In the meantime, the offense tacked on two more runs thanks to the hustle of Robert Cool and Lewis. The base-running duo advanced on a wild pitch and a passed ball to set up the final two tallies of the game.

Starter Brandon Kurtz improved to 2-2 by picking up the win. He allowed five runs (three earned) and struck out four in winning for the first time at home this season.

The only drama of game two involved starting pitcher Matt Fort and his scorless streak. Fort would stretch his run of scoreless innings pitched to 21 before surrendering two runs in the top of the sixth inning.

By that time, however, JCU had scored six times in building a 6-0 lead. The Blue Streaks took advantage of three Muskingum errors over the first five innings.

After Fort surrendered his first two runs of the season in conference play, he settled in and started a new streak by working a scoreless seventh and eighth. Craig Willert pitched a scoreless ninth to end the game.

JCU would put the finishing touches on the win with three runs in the sixth and two more in the eighth. In all, John Carroll would collect 11 runs on 12 hits.

Fort improved to 5-0 on the year. he worked eight innings and allowed six hits and two runs, striking out seven and walking none.

The victories pushed John Carroll's record to 15-6 overall and 6-2 in the OAC, forging a three-way tie for second place with Marietta and Heidelberg. Muskingum drops to 12-10 overall and 2-6 in league play.