NEW CONCORD, Ohio -- Mount Union's baseball team, ranked No. 17 in the nation, suffered 9-5 and 2-1 losses to John Carroll in an Ohio Athletic Conference series played at Muskingum University in New Concord, Ohio.

The Purple Raiders fall to 10-3 overall and 0-2 in the OAC, while John Carroll improved to 7-6 overall and 2-0 in the OAC.

John Carroll got strong pitching performances in both games holding Mount Union to its two lowest hit and run totals of the season.

Aaron Lapaglia allowed only seven hits and struck out six to pick up the complete game victory in game one while Brian Maddern gave up one unearned run in eight innings and Kevin Rosinski got the save in game two.

Mount Union only gave up seven hits as well but a season-high four errors resulted in five unearned runs.

The Raiders took an early 1-0 lead in the second as Justin Jakubik (Strongsville/Strongsville) led off the game with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out from Jeff Bennett (Uniontown/Lake).

John Carroll tied the game in the bottom of the second with a run and then plated four runs in the fifth to extend the lead to 5-1.

Mount Union close the gap to 5-4 with three in the seventh on an RBI double from Evan Knott (Canton/GlenOak), a ground out from Jakubik and a single from Bennett.

The Raiders tied the game in the eighth as Lee Grosscup (Green/Green) had a two-out RBI single.

The Blue Streaks took advantage of three walks and an error in the bottom of the eighth to push across four runs then finished the game with a 1-2-3 ninth for the 9-5 win.

Grosscup had two hits and Bennett drove in two runs to lead Mount Union at the plate while Wes Kemp (Uniontown/Lake) took the loss in relief.

Bobby Sabatino drove in three runs on two hits to pace John Carroll.

In game two, John Carroll jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first inning as OAC's top hitter -- Chet Lauer had a two-out, two-run single.

The Raiders mustered a single run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly RBI by Ricky Olasz (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin).

Mount Union tried to tie the game in the ninth inning as Steve Mitch (Sagamore Hills/Trinity) led off the inning with a walk, pinch runner Ben Atkinson (Carrollton/Carrollton) moved over to second on a sacrifice by Jakubik but he was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a Bennett single.

Mitch and Bennett each finished with two hits.

Maddern scattered seven hits over eight innings while Rosinski got the final two outs for the save.

The loss spoiled a great outing by Mount Union pitcher Sam Clarke (Strongsville/Strongsville) who went the distance allowing only three hits.

Mount Union hosts Allegheny in the home opener Thursday at 4 pm at 23rd Street Field in Alliance.

John Carroll 9, Mount Union 5 (Mar 24, 2014 at Muskingum University) (Game 1)
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Mount Union......... 010 000 310  -  5  7  4      (10-2, 0-1 OAC)
John Carroll........ 010 040 04X  -  9  7  1      (6-6, 1-0 OAC)
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Pitchers: Mount Union - Zach Carlino; Wes Kemp(8); Gino Ceriani(8) and C.J. Stotler.
John Carroll - Aaron Lapaglia and Chet Lauer.
Win-Aaron Lapaglia(3-1)  Loss-Wes Kemp(0-1)  T-2:10  A-19
Weather: 32 & partly sunny




John Carroll 2, Mount Union 1 (Mar 24, 2014 at Muskingum University) (Game 2)
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Mount Union......... 000 010 000  -  1  8  1      (10-3, 0-2 OAC)
John Carroll........ 200 000 00X  -  2  3  1      (7-6, 2-0 OAC)
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Pitchers: Mount Union - Sam Clarke and James Weber. John Carroll - Brandon Maddern;
Mark Materise(9); Kevin Rosinski(9) and Chet Lauer.
Win-Brandon Maddern(2-0)  Save-Kevin Rosinski(2)  Loss-Sam Clarke(3-1)  T-2:00  A-26
Weather: 35 & partly sunny
Maddern faced 1 batter in the 9th.