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

John Carroll was supposed to host Otterbein Tuesday, but the two-day wait proved worth it as the Blue Streaks scored their first home sweep of the 2009 campaign by taking two from the visiting Cardinals Thursday afternoon at Schweickert Field.

Reigning Ohio Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week Paul O'Donnell led the way as the Streaks won game one, 7-4. In the nightcap, Tom Schaberl pitched a complete game and Tom Hickey had a career best five RBI as JCU rolled to an 8-2 triumph.

The opener was all about opportunity, as JCU cashed in while Otterbein could not. The Cardinals left the bases loaded in the first, and again in the fourth despite having the first three batters reach safely in that inning. O'Donnell twice got out of the jam thanks to inning-ending double plays.

In the meantime, the John Carroll offense would efficiently produce runs. The Streaks scored twice in the first, twice in the second, and three times in the fourth for a 7-0 lead. Although the Cardinals scored four runs in the fifth, including three on a home run by Brian Hiscox, the lead would stand.

O'Donnell improved to 5-1, while Hickey, Brian Benander, Michael Krainz, John Skomra and Matt Pangallo all had RBI hits.

Game two started off with Hiscox belting a solo home run to lead off the second, but Hickey answered twice. He had a bases loaded double as part of a three-run third, and then hit a two run home run in the fifth to put JCU ahead 5-2. Hickey is the first Blue Streak to hit a home run at Schweickert Field in 2008.

Hickey ended the game 4-5 with two runs and five RBI. Benander and Bryan Robinette each collected three hits.

All the while, Schaberl would keep Otterbein at bay. He scattered nine hits and allowed two runs, striking out five and walking none. Schaberl is now 4-0 on the season.

The win vaulted John Carroll to a record of 19-7 overall and 8-4 in the OAC -- good for sole possession of third place behind heidelberg (10-2) and Marietta (9-3).