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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Justin Hanley
Isabella Eke
4
John Carroll JCU 2-1
12
Winner Baldwin Wallace BW 1-2
John Carroll JCU
2-1
4
Final
12
Baldwin Wallace BW
1-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
John Carroll JCU 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 8 3
Baldwin Wallace BW 6 0 1 0 2 1 0 2 X 12 15 1

W: D. Wilson (1-0) L: Michel, Nicholas (0-1)

10
Winner John Carroll JCU 3-1
7
Baldwin Wallace BW 1-3
Winner
John Carroll JCU
3-1
10
Final
7
Baldwin Wallace BW
1-3
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
John Carroll JCU 0 0 0 2 0 2 1 0 5 10 12 4
Baldwin Wallace BW 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 3 7 11 2

W: Merrill, John (1-0) L: K. Maruna (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Drezdan Dale, Staff Writer

Baseball Splits Sunday Twinbill Thanks to 10-Run Game 2

BEREA, Ohio -- BEREA, Ohio -- What an opening weekend for John Carroll's baseball team. After two one-run victories on Saturday against Baldwin Wallace, the two teams were back at it Sunday for another doubleheader (non-OAC contests). 

The Blue Streaks improved to 3-1 after splitting the day's games with Baldwin Wallace, who fell to 1-3 on the season.

Game 1

In the first game on Sunday at Fisher Field in Berea, John Carroll fell 12-4 for their first loss of the season. 

What looked like a promising start quickly turned into disaster for the Blue Streaks. 

Starting off the top of the first inning, the Blue Streaks number two hitter Jake Olsavksy got things going with a triple to right-center. On his way to third base, the throw got away from the third baseman, and Olsavsky was able to score on the error. Unfortunately, the tides turned rather quickly for John Carroll.

In the bottom of the first, Blue Streak starting pitcher Nicholas Michel was not able to find his groove, as he gave up two walks and an RBI single before Alexis Castillo hit a 3 run home run. After a hit batter, another walk, and a single, manager Bobby Bell pulled Michel for Erich Payne, who then proceeded to give up a 2 RBI double to Tony LoParo before getting out of the inning. In total after the first inning, the Streaks trailed 6-1. 

While they trailed by 5 runs, all hope was not lost. The Blue Streaks were able to get themselves back in the game in the top half of the second as Victor Glaser singled with one out, before taking second and third on a wild pitch. Matthew Springer singled up the middle, driving in Glaser. Then, to start the 3rd inning, Sam Heaton singled and stole second base before Justin Hanley doubled, bringing home Heaton. This cut the score to 6-3; unfortunately, that's as close as it would be the rest of the game. 

Baldwin Wallace was able to strike for a run in the bottom of the third, before plating 2 more runs in the 5th and another in the 6th, making the score 10-3 in Baldwin Wallace's favor.

Leading off the 8th, Olsavsky notched his second hit of the day with a double down the right field line. With two outs, a pitch got away from Baldwin Wallace's catcher, JT Mazula, and Olsavsky was able to score from second. 

In the bottom half of the frame, Castillo hit his second home run of the game, this time a 2-run blast, bringing the score to 12-4 and wrapping up the scoring. Garrett Siegel then came in to finish it out on the mound for the Blue Streaks, allowing one hit while notching his first career strikeout.

Overall for the John Carroll pitchers in game one, Michel took the loss, while Payne finished with 4.2 innings pitched, giving up 6 hits and striking out 3 while being credited with 3 unearned runs. 

For the John Carroll batters, leading the way was Olsavsky as he finished with a double and triple and two runs scored. Glaser finished with a single and a double while driving in one. 

Game 2

In game two of the doubleheader, John Merrill stepped up big. The Blue Streak starting pitcher started off a bit shaky, understandable given that it was his first start in over a year. As the game went on, Merrill seemed to get more and more confident with every pitch.

After John Carroll went down in short order to begin the game, Merrill began by striking out Dudley Taw. Then, after a Jacob Bonner single and Alex Ludwick double, Alexis Castillo grounded out to score a run, bringing in the first run of the game for the Yellow Jackets.

In the top of the second, the Streaks got their first hit of the game with two outs, as Matthew Springer singled. Then, Tyler Cyrus was hit by a pitch. John Carroll failed to capitalize however, as Logan LaMere grounded out to end their scoring chance. 

To start the bottom of the second, Baldwin Wallace's Andrew Parker reached on an error. Then, in a terrific defensive play, Merrill caught a bunt attempt and threw to first to double up Parker before striking out Mazula to end the inning. 

After both teams failed to score in the 3rd, John Carroll was able to get on the board in the top of the fourth. Henry Haracz singled with one out, stole second, and advanced to third on a balk. Matthew Springer then drew a walk, before stealing second base. On the throw down to second, Haracz was able to steal home. Cyrus then singled up the middle, driving home Springer, and putting the Blue Streaks ahead 2-1.

Baldwin Wallace was able to get to Merrill in the 5th, as LoParo led off with a single and Ludwick blasted a 2-out, 2-run homerun, giving the Yellow Jackets the lead 3-2. That was the last hit Merrill would give up, as he struck out 3 of the final 4 batters he faced before being pulled to start the 7th inning in favor of Henry Darrow.

Merrill finished the game with 6 IP, 3 ER, and 5 K's, and ultimately earned the win. He was exactly what the Blue Streaks needed after they had to turn to their bullpen early in the first game, giving the team solid innings while keeping them in the game and providing timely strikeouts.

Both teams scored in the 7th, as Haracz hit an RBI triple for John Carroll. For Baldwin Wallace, Taw hit a ball into the right-center gap and it seemed to get stuck under the fence, and, before a Blue Streak outfielder could pick it up, Taw had himself an inside the park homerun on one of the strangest plays you will ever see. 

The Blue Streaks entered the ninth up 5-4, in need of some insurance runs. After two quick outs to start the inning, Haracz singled and stole second, seemingly igniting the offense. After a walk and then a defensive error, Haracz scored. LaMere then doubled, driving home two, before Christian Cassaro hit an RBI single. To wrap up the scoring in the inning, Jared Orwell singled to center, bringing home Cassaro, and putting the Blue Streaks up 10-4.

The Yellow Jackets would not go down easy, however. Jack Bennett came in to relieve Darrow, and walked the first two batters he faced before striking out Bonner. After a wild pitch, Ludwick singled to drive in a run. Castillo and Luke Vonderhaar both reached on an error, with each costing John Carroll a run. With the score 10-7, Bennett needed to get two more outs, and answered the bell by striking out Parker and getting Bryce Holt to ground out.

In game two for John Carroll, Haracz finished with 3 hits, 1 RBI, and 3 runs. Heaton went 3 for 5, and Cassaro finished 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI. As a team, the Blue Streaks went 7 for 17 hitting with two outs, which greatly contributed to their success, especially in the ninth inning.

"We'd like to have won all four games this weekend, but winning three against a good team like Baldwin Wallace is no easy task," said head coach Bobby Bell, "Our guys played well and for the first time seeing live competition in over a year, they knocked the rust off and showed they can compete with anyone in the OAC."

The Blue Streaks will be back in action next Saturday as they take on Capital in a doubleheader, with the first game slated to start at 1:00 pm at Schweickert Field in University Heights, Ohio.
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