Box Score Three days removed from sweeping nationally ranked Mount Union, the John Carroll University baseball team looked to stay focused and run its win streak to four games.

Backed by another dominating pitching performance the Blue Streaks (8-6) topped the Battling Bishops (5-7) 4-1 on Thursday afternoon in Delaware, Ohio.

John Carroll struck for three runs in the first inning. Bobby Sabatino drew a leadoff walk and moved into scoring position on a stolen base. Battling to stay alive Mitchell Herringshaw drove the ninth pitch of his at bat over Steven Moore's head for a double to plate the game's first run. Two batters later Chet Lauer mashed his first career John Carroll home run to make it 3-0.

"He had a really good swing right there," said head coach Marc Thibeault. "He was able to stay composed. He had good extension and hit the back of the baseball. He got it up and it carried out. It was a great way for us to be able to establish and gain momentum in the early part of the game."

Making his season debut, 2013 All-OAC first team hurdler Andrew Doring worked a one-two-three first inning striking out the first two hitters he faced of the season. The junior worked his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning to keep the Battling Bishops off the board.

John Carroll threatened to add insurance runs in the top of the sixth. Sabatino singled to lead off the frame and notched his second stolen base of the game. Herringshaw walked to give the Blue and Gold two runners with no outs. However, Peter Munger picked off Herringshaw and struck out Jimmy Spagna and Lauer to end the threat.

Ohio Wesleyan scored in the bottom of the sixth on Greg Hock's RBI ground out after Steven Moore's single and Tyler Flaherty's double.

John Carroll would get the run back in the top of the seventh. Tyler Gentile started the rally with a long single to center. Executing a hit-and-run, Mark Huddle laced a single up the middle to send Gentile to third. Jake Miller's RBI fielder's choice gave a 3-run cushion back to the Blue Streaks.

After not needing much of his bullpen on Monday, Thibeault worked his pitching staff on Thursday. Mark Materise, Billy Turosky and Anthony Libertini (2-0) all worked two innings of relief before Kevin Rosinski nailed down his second save of the week. The five Blue Streak pitchers held the Battling Bishops to just seven hits.

Said Thibeault, "We had 21 first pitch strikes. When you're able to do that you're able to dictate the count and throw what you want with what Coach Weeks wants. Our pitchers did a good job with that. We did well with the first pitch strike and that allows the defense to make good plays."

John Carroll is slated to play a doubleheader at Wilmington beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Stayed tuned to www.jcusports.com and the baseball team's Twitter account @JCU_Baseball for up-to-date status of the game as rain is expected in Ohio this weekend.