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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Aukerman
Aukerman's complete game ensured a JCU win in Game 2.
8
Winner John Carroll JOHN CAR 14-17-1
4
Muskingum MUSKINGU 7-17-1
Winner
John Carroll JOHN CAR
14-17-1
8
Final
4
Muskingum MUSKINGU
7-17-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
John Carroll JOHN CAR 0 1 0 0 1 5 0 0 1 8 7 2
Muskingum MUSKINGU 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 6 2

W: Merrill, John (4-3) L: B. Bush (0-4)

13
Winner John Carroll JOHN CAR 15-17-1
1
Muskingum MUSKINGU 7-18-1
Winner
John Carroll JOHN CAR
15-17-1
13
Final
1
Muskingum MUSKINGU
7-18-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
John Carroll JOHN CAR 0 0 2 0 3 5 0 3 0 13 14 0
Muskingum MUSKINGU 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 6 3

W: Aukerman, Matthew (2-2) L: B. Carson (1-4)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Joe Ginley '16, SID

Hudson's Finest Guide Baseball to Critical Saturday Sweep of Muskingum

NEW CONCORD, Ohio -- Games always become more important as the season wears on, but the penultimate weekend of the regular season held the utmost importance for John Carroll University Baseball.

Battling for the sixth and final spot in the upcoming Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament, the Blue Streaks needed to shore up its standing, especially with Muskingum nipping at their heels.

Needing wins today, the Blue Streaks delivered. Hudson natives John Merrill and Matthew Ackerman provided masterful complete games, and the bats supported their efforts. The clutch efforts ensured two wins over the Fighting Muskies, 8-4 and 13-1. 

With the victories, the men of Bobby Bell have a firm command of the sixth spot in the standings with one more 4-game series against seventh-place Otterbein ahead next weekend. JCU will enter with a 16-17-1 overall mark, with a 13-16-1 record in conference play.  

Game 1

The hosts showed hometown hospitality in the early goings, firing out to a 1-0 lead in the first, thanks to a sacrifice fly. John Carroll responded, as Tyler Cyrus knocked in Justin Hanley after the Florida native opened the top of the second with a leadoff walk. But Muskingum's offense got back at the Blue Streaks, plating a pair in the bottom half, thanks to a 2-run double to left center. 

But Bell stuck with his reliable right-hander, and the Hudson native rewarded his faith. Merrill escaped the jam with a foul out, and kept the Muskies at bay the rest of the day. 

After scoreless third and fourth frames, the John Carroll bats began to awaken in the fifth. Michael Anderson reached on an error, Sam Heaton singled to send Anderson to third, and Erik Daugenti plated the vet with a sacrifice fly to left. John Carroll now trailed, 3-2. 

Muskingum mustered a solo homer in the fifth, but that would be it for their scoring. The Blue Streaks were nowhere near done. 

In the top of the sixth, Joe Olsavsky opened things up with a 1-out walk. Tyler Cyrus then thundered a 2-run homer, knotting the contest at four. Sensing blood in the water, JCU kept going. Bennett Cavaretta doubled to left center, and then scored on a Logan LaMere RBI single. Muskingum garnered a punchout, but then walked Heaton. The Fighting Muskies called to the bullpen. 

With 2 outs, a wild play changed the game. Daugenti reached on an error and then advanced to third. On the play, Heaton and LaMere scored, pushing the JCU advantage to 7-4. A groundout ended the inning, but the damage was done.

With 3 runs in hand, Merrill went to work. He allowed a hit by pitch in the sixth, a single in the seventh, and an error got a runner on in the eighth, but groundouts got him out of it, including a 6-4-3 inning-killer in the seventh. 

John Carroll got one more run in the ninth. Erik Daugenti walked to start the inning, then later scored after a Henry Haracz single then stolen base. 

Merrill didn't need it, though, as he cruised through the final frame with a 1-2-3 frame. The 6'2 Explorer allowed 4 runs on 6 hits in 9 innings, striking out 7 Muskies. Merrill powered through 130 pitches for the win. 

Brayden Bush took the loss for Muskingum, as he struck out 14 batters but the Blue Streaks managed to figure him out late. Cyrus led JCU at the plate with a 2-for-5 game with 3 RBI. 

Game 2

The second half of the twinbill started as a pitcher's duel but transformed into a one-sided affair. Matthew Aukerman took the bump for the Blue Streaks and was dealing from the get-go.

John Carroll did not scratch a run across in the first two frames, but they did find their footing in the third. Henry Haracz opened the frame by reaching on an error. Justin Hanley made Muskingum pay for the transgression, as he blasted a 2-run dinger to push JCU into the lead. Those were all the runs needed for the victory, but the JCU offense didn't rest its case. 

Haracz providing the first shot of the fifth with a single to center. He quickly stole second and third, placing himself in position for Hanley to hit him home. The junior did just that, singling to center. After a JCU strikeout, Tyler Cyrus drew a walk. Matthew Thiel then hit into a fielder's choice, but Jacob Connery still had two ducks on the pond with 2 outs. The catcher doubled to right to score both runners, upping the JCU lead to 5-0.

Aukerman cruised through the bottom of the frame, setting the stage for the JCU offense to land a crippling blow in the top of the sixth. Sam Heaton started the fracas with a double to left center. Haracz then singled to left field, scoring Heaton. The sprinter stole second, and scored on a Joe Olsavsky single. Cyrus hammered a double to left center to score the rookie, and then scored himself on a back-breaking Thiel 2-run homer. 

Muskingum reached into the bullpen, but the damage was done, as JCU enjoyed a 10-0 lead. The Fighting Muskies ruined the shutout with a run in the seventh, but John Carroll plated three more in the top of the eighth for good measure. 

Matthew Cassaro singled to second to open things up, and Olsavsky reached on an error. Anthony Bonavita scored both with a triple to center. That would conclude the scoring, and Aukerman wrapped things up by striking out the side in the eighth.

Aukerman advanced to 2-2 with the gem of a complete game. The sophomore stood tall for eight innings, allowing just a single run on 6 hits, mowing down 8 batters. On the day, the Hudson native hurled 102 pitches for the win. 
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