John Carroll Opens With A Win Over Jensen Beach

Royce Neil stole home in the first.

After having their first game of the season rained out on Tuesday night, the John Carroll Rams got their 2016 campaign started with a bang on Wednesday, defeating the Jensen Beach Falcons 8-3 on the road.

Christopher Montpetit was a force to be reckoned with for the Rams, boasting a 3-for-5 performance at the plate while driving in three runs. Keenan Bryant also proved to be a tough out for John Carroll, adding three base-hits in four at-bats and scoring a run. Despite their stat lines, it was teammate Royce Neil who stole the show in the first inning by stealing home. After leading off with a free pass, Neil stole second and advanced to third on a bases-loading walk. He then opened the scoring by coming home safe on a double steal to give the Rams a 1-0 lead.

Neil’s speed came in handy for the Rams again in the fourth when he beat out a bunt for a base hit and forced an error that advanced him to third and brought a run in. RBIs by Montpetit and Justin O’Leary accounted for three more runs for the Rams and pushed their lead to 5-0.

The Falcons fought back in the fifth. Ryan Rivera, who was a perfect 3-for-3, drew a one-out walk. Wade Walton, who also worked the first three innings on the mound for Jensen Beach, took a 2-0 pitch into left-center for an RBI triple in the next at-bat and later came home on an error, shrinking the deficit to 5-2.

Three more Ram runs in the seventh put to rest any doubt about the outcome. Mike La Rocca started it off with a double down the right field line then scored on an error later in the inning. Two ensuing walks set the table for Montpetit’s final two RBIs of the night.

Rivera capped off the scoring for the Falcons in the seventh by tallying his third base hit and coming home on Angel Pardo’s single into right field.

Harrison Stacy earned the win for John Carroll by working four and a third innings and allowing one earned run.

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