1. NCAA Bound: Baseball Off To First NCAA Tournament Since 1984 With Win Over BW
By Kevin Smith, Graduate Assistant
Baseball
Posted: 5/10/2014 11:47:00 PM
It has been 30 years since the John Carroll University baseball team has made the NCAA Tournament. John Carroll had also never won an OAC title. John Carroll had
the title in its grasp in the first game. Baldwin Wallace came back. Junior Mark Huddle and freshman Mark Materise made sure that would not happen in the second
game.
Down to the winner-take-all game Huddle put JCU in front with a 2-run, 2-out double in the fourth inning of the second game while Materise pitched into the sixth
inning giving JCU a much-needed performance with arms at a premium for both teams.
"Each day we talked about a certain thing that was going to help us win," said head coach Marc Thibeault. "Today that was maturity. We talked about how far we've
come. We went 4-5 down in Florida. The thing that's helped us get to this point is we've matured as a baseball team and as individuals. Maturity was going to be one of
the things I think that was going to be an underlying factor that would help us."
With the 6-3 win in the second game John Carroll advances to its first NCAA Tournament since 1984.
"This is about the kids," said Thibeault. "The kids earned it and battled for everything. They created their opportunities and had the midset and focus.
"It is (also) a very special feeling because I've worn number five (at JCU) since I was 18-years-old. To be able to do it at my alma mater is such an extrodinary feeling.
This group is very special and past groups were very special. To make it on the 30th anniversary of the 1984 team is icing on the cake. "It's an honor to be in the
program as a player and as a coach and to be able to be one of the pieces that helped accomplish this goal."
Game One
John Carroll was two outs away advancing to its first NCAA Tournament since 1984. Senior Kevin Rosinski forced the Baldwin Wallace groundout but John Carroll
was unable to get the double play.
Given new life after the 2 hour and 25 minute rain delay, the Yellow Jackets seized the opportunity. Pinch hitter Cole Nieto drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the score.
Alex Green rocketed his third RBI base hit of the game to put BW up 11-9, the final score by which Baldwin Wallace would win by.
Entering the ninth inning the Blue Streaks quickly recorded the first out. Racing against the weather the Yellow Jackets' next two batters reached base sending the tarp
onto the field in Don Schaly Stadium.
John Carroll took the 9-7 lead when Tyler Gentile rocked his second 3-run homer of the OAC Tournament over the left field fence in the seventh inning.
The third baseman was named the MVP of the OAC Tournament finishing 9-for-18 with two homers and nine RBIs.
"I saw the ball and got my hands through it on the swing," said Gentile. "We stepped up in the second game after dropping the first game. We showed a lot of heart
today."
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