The Observer, April 28, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 26
Spartan errors gift wrap victory for John Carroll
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It must have felt like the holiday season for the John Carroll Blue Streaks on Tuesday because the Case baseball team gave them many gifts. The Spartans committed nine errors and gave up 22 hits en route to a 20-9 loss in University Heights. What made the debacle surprising was that Case had an impressive doubleheader the previous Saturday, sweeping a good Thomas More team 6-4 and 6-5.
Things looked promising early against John Carroll as Case jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Junior catcher Marshall Hampton started the inning with a leadoff triple while sophomore third baseman Kevin Haley walked. After a pop out, senior outfielder Chris Sisson singled to advance Haley to second and score Hampton. Sophomore designated hitter Kevin Sudnik walked to load the bases and freshman shortstop Ben Faber walked home a run before a strikeout gave JCU two outs. Senior second baseman Dan McNally's clutch single scored two runs and gave Case its early advantage.
The Blue Streaks responded in the bottom of the first with five runs to take their lead. JCU's inning was helped by two Spartan's errors that allowed the inning to continue.
Case took back the lead in the top of the second inning as senior left fielder Josh Knipp began the inning with a walk and reached second on a single by Hampton. Both players advanced on a steal before two groundouts enabled them to score.
JCU continued to take advantage of Case's mistakes in the bottom of the second as they scored seven runs on seven hits with the help of three Case errors.
With one out, Faber began a two-run, third inning for the Spartans with a single. He then reached second on a passed ball. Senior right fielder Tim Koenig walked before McNally's sacrifice bunt advanced the runners. Knipp's two-out single to center field scored both base runners, but a pop out ended the inning.
Case's freshman pitcher Jonathan Fagert pitched a scoreless third to keep the Spartans within four runs at 12-8, but the Blue Streaks continued their offensive explosion in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Blue Streaks scored four runs off four hits and two errors to take a 16-8 lead. By the fourth inning, the Spartans had already committed seven errors in the ballgame.
Both teams went scoreless in the fifth inning, but JCU continued to build its lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Blue Streaks scored three runs off three hits and were again aided by a Spartan error as they took a 19-8 advantage.
Each team scores a run in the eighth inning to set up the final score. In his first at-bat of the game, junior catcher Joe McCrackin hit a double to left field. He advanced to third base on a groundout before senior centerfielder Max Briggs singled into center field to score McCrackin.
Case travels to the University of Chicago this weekend for their final games as they battle two UAA foes, the Maroons and the Washington University Bears. Chicago has a record of 11-15 while the Bears enter the weekend with a 32-5 record, including a victory over the Spartans in Sanford, Fla. at the UAA Championships.
