Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Eventually, the John Carroll baseball team knew all good things would end on its trip to Florida.

It just happened a few hours earlier than expected.

The first six games at the RussMatt Classic went relatively smoothly. Games seven and eight did not as the Blue Streaks lost two games to King's College, 5-2 and 5-1, on Saturday afternoon at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale, FL.

On a positive note, Steve Virost tossed his first career complete game, David Ferguson filled the stat sheet with another two hits and the team combined for seven stolen bases, giving it 41 on the 2018 campaign. The single-season program record is 81 stolen bases.

Still, the trip did not end as the JCU contingent had hoped, as the Blue Streaks concluded their annual trip to Florida with a 5-3 record, and now have a 7-4 clip overall.

Game 1

King's College, which began the day 1-5, played nothing like a one-win team. The Monarchs strung together six hits in the first two innings against Virost, including RBI knocks from Chris Rebar (single), Matt Mellinger (double) and Brad Wilkins (single).

Sandwiched between the four-run spark were two balks and a wild pitch, which amounted to a slow start for a team fresh off a come-from- behind victory over Widener on Friday.

Some two-out magic would cut the deficit in half.

With the bases empty in the third, Monroe Donnelly doubled off the right-center field wall, Dominic Mittiga crushed an RBI double off the left-field wall and Ferguson ripped an RBI single up the middle.

Southpaw Billy Neill had retired seven of the first 11 JCU hitters he faced before the rally.

Virost settled in throughout the middle innings, setting down four consecutive batters on two different occasions. His pinpoint command helped him to a complete game, the first of his four-year career – 6 IP, 9 H, 5 R/ER, 2 BB, 5 K (97 pitches, five groundouts, seven flyouts).

Offense would come at premium for the road nine. Despite the crooked number earlier in the tightly contested affair, the Blue Streaks could only muster two additional hits. Ferguson singled, but would eventually be thrown out at second. Mike McCarty reached on a bunt single, but he was caught stealing on a pickoff play.

John Carroll fell to 7-3, which still marked its best 10-game start since the 2015 campaign.

Game 2
JCU set the tone early by earning its first lead of the twin bill, courtesy of Patrick Keohane's walk, stolen base, advance on a wild pitch and score on Aaron Zawadzki's RBI groundout. Even without a hit in the first inning, head coach Marc Thibeault and company gained the advantage.

After surrendering five runs on five hits over two innings against Wentworth on Monday, John Merrill bounced back with efficiency. His lone damage through the first three frames was unearned, as the Blue Streaks committed two errors, allowing Kyle Lupas to score.

The teams traded zeroes for the next two innings until Christian Pack doubled to the gap in left-center field, plating Sean McKee from second base. Again, the run was unearned after a fielding error commenced the top of the fifth.

Merrill's day would end in the sixth, as King's College had its first three runners reach base on two singles and a double. Duncan Cappar took over and allowed both of his inherited runners to score on two more singles, giving Merrill a final line of 5 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K.

Facing a 5-1 deficit, the Blue and Gold had a chance to come back, but six of their final eight batters were retired as King's completed the unexpected sweep.

On deck
Next, the Blue Streaks will travel to Lexington, KY and open a three-game set with Transylvania University beginning on Saturday at 12 p.m. from Marquard Field.