ALLIANCE, Ohio - The No. 1 seed and No. 21 nationally ranked Mount Union baseball team (27-10) lost its OAC tournament opener against No. 4 seed John Carroll University (23-15) at Rafeld-Rogers Field by a score of 9-3.

Right-handed starting pitcher Brady Hansen (Beaver, Pa. / Beaver Area) pitched 6.0 innings with four strikeouts. Hansen (8-2) allowed five runs, with only two being earned. Right-handed pitcher Christopher Maurer (Hudson, Ohio / Hudson) pitched 3.0 innings with a strikeout, allowing four runs.

The Purple Raiders had a solid offensive performance early, scoring three runs—one in each of the first three innings. Graduate first baseman Jaired Lehman (Monroeville, Pa. / Gateway) contributed with an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning. He finished the game batting 1-for-2 with one RBI and two walks.

Senior third baseman Chris Viamonte (Miami, FL. / Coral Gables) drove in a run with a single in the bottom of the second inning, and sophomore outfielder Luke Ickes (Green, Ohio / Green) followed suit with another RBI single in the bottom of the third. However, the Purple Raiders were unable to score for the remainder of the game, as John Carroll's offense found its rhythm again late, securing a 9-3 victory. 

Mount Union's next game will be tomorrow at 12:30 PM against Ohio Northern in the elimination game.