UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — Wabash rallied from three runs down in the eighth inning of Sunday's second game to briefly seize the lead, but John Carroll answered with runs in the bottom of the eighth and ninth innings to complete a doubleheader sweep of the Little Giants in the opening North Coast Athletic Conference series for both programs. The Blue Streaks claimed the opener 4-1 before walking off a 7-6 victory in game two, handing Wabash its first losses in the all-time series after the Little Giants entered the weekend 2-0 against John Carroll.

John Carroll (13-6, 2-0 NCAC) and Wabash (5-13, 0-2 NCAC) played the first baseball games between the two schools at Schweickert Field and the first NCAC baseball contests in Blue Streaks program history, adding extra weight to a pair of tightly contested setbacks for the Little Giants.

The Little Giants were held in check early in game one as John Carroll used two home runs and a key third-inning sequence to build a four-run lead. Brett Krugman opened the scoring with a solo homer in the second inning, then Dylan Sowers doubled to start the third before George Haracz connected on a two-run homer to extend the lead to 3-0. A wild pitch later in the inning allowed Chris Bach to score for the Blue Streaks' fourth run.

Wabash had chances throughout the opener, putting multiple runners aboard in the third, fourth, sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, but could not produce the big hit until the seventh. Will McKinzie worked a one-out walk, Ben Henke followed with a single, and Will Wallace drew a free pass to load the bases. Jimmy Hawksworth was then hit by a pitch to force home McKinzie and cut the deficit to 4-1. John Carroll escaped the jam and held the Little Giants scoreless the rest of the way.

Henke paced Wabash in the opener by going 2-for-5. Hawksworth finished 1-for-2 with two walks and the team's only RBI, while Caleb Ellspermann, Wallace, and Parker Smith each added a hit. McKinzie scored the lone run and reached base twice.

Caleb Everson took the loss despite a solid five-inning start, striking out seven while allowing four runs on six hits. Bryce Haney kept the Little Giants within reach by tossing three hitless innings in relief with two strikeouts.

Wabash came out stronger in the second game and quickly grabbed momentum in the second inning. Wallace singled to open the frame, Parker Smith doubled him home, and Hawksworth followed with another RBI double to left to give the Little Giants a 2-0 advantage.

John Carroll chipped away with a Jordan Suvak solo homer in the third and tied the game in the fourth after an error extended the inning and Christopher Salek doubled home Brett Krugman. The Blue Streaks moved ahead in the fifth when Haracz singled home Suvak before Krugman delivered a two-run double down the right-field line to make it 5-2.

The Little Giants mounted their comeback beginning in the seventh. Landen Basey singled and later scored when Ben Henke drew a bases-loaded walk to trim the margin to 5-3. Wabash then surged in front in the eighth. Parker Smith doubled to open the inning, Hawksworth singled, and Basey lined an RBI single to center. After a sacrifice moved both runners into scoring position, Bradley Gilliam ripped a triple to right-center to score Basey and Hawksworth, giving Wabash a 6-5 lead.

The advantage lasted only briefly. John Carroll answered in the bottom of the eighth as Krugman doubled and scored on Salek's RBI single to even the score at 6-6. In the ninth, Ethan Glossa singled, stole second, and moved to third during a bases-loaded rally before Salek lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score the winning run.

Basey led the Wabash offense in game two, finishing 3-for-3 with two runs scored, a double, and an RBI. Parker Smith went 2-for-5 with two doubles, two runs, and an RBI. Hawksworth added two hits, scored once, and drove in another run, while Gilliam's two-run triple nearly lifted the Little Giants to the split.

Aidan McConnell gave Wabash four innings in the start, allowing three runs with two earned. Jarrod Kirsch covered 3 1/3 innings of relief and allowed three runs, while Jackson Woehr was charged with the loss after surrendering the tying run in the eighth and the setup sequence for the walk-off in the ninth. Trey Pitcock recorded the final out after the decisive run crossed the plate.

For the doubleheader, Wabash received standout production from several hitters. Hawksworth finished 3-for-6 with two doubles, three RBI, and two runs scored. Basey combined to go 4-for-5 with a double, two RBI, and two runs, while Parker Smith went 3-for-6 with three doubles, two RBI, and two runs scored. Henke drove in two runs across the twinbill, and Gilliam added three RBI, including the pivotal eighth-inning triple in game two.

Wabash pitchers combined for 16 2/3 innings, allowing 17 hits and 11 runs, 10 of them earned, while striking out 14 over the two games. 

Wabash will look to snap its losing streak with a nonconference game at Eureka College on Wednesday at 1 p.m. Central Time