Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Backed by two all-out performances, the John Carroll University baseball team accomplished another first since the playing days of head coach Marc Thibeault.
 
The Blue Streaks completed a sweep with back-to-back shutouts for the first time since at Kenyon on March 26, 1996, Thibeault's sophomore year.
 
With the 6-0, 4-0 wins John Carroll improves to 18-10, 10-4 OAC and Capital falls to 11-18, 2-12 OAC. Capital has not scored a run in its last 37 innings of play.
 
John Carroll's four pitchers held the Capital to 10 hits between the two games and the Blue Streaks were helped out be two double plays.
 
"Pretty much the success is a combination of a lot of things. One, it was strike one. We only had two walks on the entire day so we threw the ball really well. We got ahead and located our pitches really well. Behind them we made some really good plays. Again, just another example of how good our middle (Mark Huddle and Bobby Sabatino) is. Patrick (Scholla) made a great play in right field when Kevin (Rosinski) was on the mound. I think it kind of helps your confidence when you know guys behind you are ready to go and make plays. That gives you the ability to throw more strikes."
 
Game One
Getting back on track the Blue Streaks turned towards their strengths, pitching and timely hitting. Sophomore Aaron Lapaglia and senior Billy Turosky combined on a 4-hit shutout leading to a 6-0 JCU win.
 
John Carroll scored first striking for a run in the bottom of the second inning. Tyler Gentile who smoked a 3-run homer in the first game on Friday continued to heat up. The sophomore ripped a leadoff single in the second inning and aggressively stole third base to move into scoring position. He came in to score on David Crowely's 2-out RBI single.
 
"Tyler's been seeing the ball well," said Thibeault. "He's having a good approach at the plate. He's been squaring the ball up and working his way into a hitter's count. It's good because it takes some pressure off our other guys and gets our lineup extended."
 
Lapaglia found his dominating form cruising through the Crusader lineup the first time through. Lapaglia struck the side out in the third inning and set down 11 of the first 12 batters he faced.
 
Gentile added his second hit of the game in the fourth inning. The Blue Streaks looked to have a big inning but Mitchell Herringshaw's sharp liner was snagged by Capital third baseman Ryan Pearson.
 
The sophomore continued his torrid offensive tear with his third hit of the game in the sixth inning to bring in Sabatino and make the score 3-0. Earlier in the inning the Blue Streaks stormed ahead with back-to-back singles from Robby Cifelli and Sabatino. The duo stole second the third on a double steal allowing Spagna's sacrifice fly to plate Cifelli.
 
John Carroll's offensive success continued in the bottom of the eighth inning as JCU tacked on three more runs to take the 6-0 lead. Chet Lauer laced a single up the middle to bring in Sabatino. Lauer would come in to score on a wild pitch. Capping the scoring was Gnetile who plated Spagna with a single.
 
Lapaglia picked up his sixth win of the season. The righty fired seven innings, scattering four hits and striking out eighth. Turosky closed out the game to pick up his second save. Entering with a 3-0 lead in the top of the eighth inning, the senior retired all six batters he faced.
 
Gentile led the offense finishing a perfect 4-for-4.
 
Game Two
Continuing its dominance Brandon Maddern continued to impress in the second game. The 6-9 lefty received a 6-4-3 and a 6-3 doubleplay to help him out as JCU took the second game 4-0.
 
John Carroll scored its first run in the second inning as well in game two. Crowley continued to stay hot with a 1-out single to bring in the game's first run.
 
The Blue Streaks kept up the offensive pressure in the third inning with a big inning. After two quick outs to start the inning, Crusader starter Tyler Spears ran into a jam scattering five straight hits. Herringshaw sparked the rally with a sharp single up the middle and stole second. The leftfielder scored on a single by Huddle which scooted through the left side. Crowley drove in the other two runs in the frame with a single to center.
 
From there the defense and pitching took over not allowing the Crusaders to make any noise.
 
Capital threatened in the eighth inning with back-to-back singles off of Maddern but the sophomore induced a 6-3 double play to work out of the jam.
 
Maddern improved to 5-1 on the season with eight innings of 5-hit baseball. Four Blue Streaks finished with multiple hits led by Cifelli with three. Crowley drove in three of the four runs.
 
John Carroll takes a break from OAC play with a 4 p.m. contest at Wooster on Tuesday.