WILMINGTON, Ohio – John Carroll University (JCU) scored at least a run in 12-of-16 innings in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) sweep of the Wilmington College baseball team. The Blue Streaks defeated the Fightin' Quakers 14-5 in game one and 13-9 in game two on Wednesday.
In game one, Wilmington plated an unearned run in both the first and thing innings on two errors from JCU's third basemen. The Blue Streaks offense, however, couldn't be contained as it put up two or three runs in each of the first six innings. During that stretch, Kasey Bottorff singled home Luke Kleindl in the top of the sixth, but three more Blue Streak runs in the bottom half had the visitors up 14-3.
Wilmington would plate the final two runs in the ninth on an RBI-double from Gavin Perkins as well as Kleindl being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Mitchell Midea improved to 4-1 on the season allowed one earned run with eight strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched. Lance Fleischman dipped to 2-4 on the year for Wilmington allowing six earned runs on 10 hits in three innings. Jesse Walker pitched effectively for the Quakers in relief, recording six outs including two strikeouts.
JCU finished with 17 hits as a team including a 5-for-5 performance from lead-off hitter Patrick Keohane that included three RBIs and three runs scored. Dominic Mittiga went 3-for-4 on the day with four RBIs. Wilmington was led by Aaron Burns who finished 2-for-3.
In game two, Keohane continued his hot hitting with a lead-off home run down the right field line. The Blue Streaks would blow the game open with a five-hit, six-run second inning to build a 7-0 lead after two complete.
Wilmington would get runs on an RBI-single from Nick Silvis in the third and a sacrifice fly from Kleindl in the sixth. The Quakers, who trailed 12-2 after seven complete, put together their best offense inning of the season the eighth.
In total, Wilmington sent 11 batters to the plate, tallied nine hits including RBI-doubles to deep center field from Gage Bley and Kleindl. The Quakers did get the tying run to the plate in the inning, but Kleindl struck out swinging.
JCU would plate a run in the bottom of the eighth to extend its lead to 13-9, and Wilmington would stranded a two-out double at second to end the game in the top of the ninth.
Andrew Steele improved to 5-0 on the season allowing two earned runs on six hits in 6.2 innings pitched. Jarett Trautman dips to 1-5 overall allowing six earned runs in 1.1 innings pitched.
Offensively, Wilmington finished with 16 hits as well as three-hit performances from both Silvis and Bley. Those two along with Kleindl drove in two runs while Hyatt, Burns and Gavin Perkins joined Kleindl in tallying two-hit games.
Joe Carpentier and Christian Cassaro led JCU with three-hit games.
Wilmington (6-15, 2-2 OAC) hosts Baldwin Wallace University for two games at Tewksbury Delaney Field on Saturday. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
