By: Devin Jones
Box Score Joliet Junior College outlasted Rose State College, 19‑14, on Saturday in a high‑scoring matchup powered by a huge offensive performance from
John O'Brien.
O'Brien drove in four runs on four hits, including a solo home run in the third inning, a run‑scoring double in the fourth and a two‑run single in the eighth to help fuel the Wolves' offense.
Rose State jumped out early with two runs in the first, but the Wolves answered in the third inning when O'Brien's home run and a sacrifice bunt by Withers gave the Wolves a 3‑2 lead. Rose State responded with a five‑run third inning before JJC erupted in the fourth, scoring six runs on eight hits. The key hit in the inning came from
Austin Cusack, who delivered a two‑run triple to put the Wolves back in front.
The back‑and‑forth continued as Rose State regained the lead in the fifth, but theWolves tied the game in the seventh when Brendan Henderson delivered an RBI single.
Trailing 14‑13 in the eighth, the Wolves delivered the decisive blow. The Wolves scored five runs in the inning, highlighted by a three‑run home run from Withers, to take control of the game.
The Wolves offense exploded for 22 hits in the contest.
Declan DeMent and O'Brien each collected four hits, while
Rodney DeSilva,
Max Miller, Cusack and Henderson all added multiple hits. Withers drove in a team‑high five RBIs, and the Wolves stole five bases in the game.
Matthew Fox earned the win in relief, pitching 3.2 innings while allowing one run and striking out two.
The win caps off the Wolves' Sprint Break trip, which took them to Texas and Oklahoma. JJC heads back home where they are scheduled to face Moraine Valley on March 19 Wayne L. King Field.
