WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Wartburg College baseball team (1-1 overall) fell to John Carroll University (5-1) 3-2 on Monday afternoon in the second game of the spring break tournament.
 
The game remained scoreless through the first four innings before the Knights scored first in the bottom of the fifth inning when junior Tyler Hovick (Roland) grounded out into a double play that advanced sophomore Steven Lawrence (Ames) from third to home.  
 
John Carroll responded at the top of the sixth after infielder Dominic Mittiga homered off of junior Ben Milewski (Lake Villa, Ill.) to tie the game at 1-1. A two-run seventh inning by John Carroll pushed the lead to 3-1.
 
The Orange and Black closed the gap to 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth after sophomore outfielder JoJo McNair (Joliet, Ill.) advanced to third on an error and scored shortly after when junior Manny Jeffery (Marion) grounded out to the shortstop. Freshmen Ryan Willis (Waverly) and Hovick reached first and second in the bottom of the ninth, but McNair struck out swinging to end the comeback attempt as the Knights dropped to 1-1 on the season following the loss.
 
Milewski pitched seven innings and tied a career-high with nine strikeouts. Freshman pitcher Aaron Eybers (Sioux City) came in to pitch at the top of the eighth, surrendering one hit, one walk and striking out one. Jeffery and Hovick both finished 2-4 at the plate.
 
The Knights return to action Tuesday at 9 a.m. to face Concordia College (Minn.) (2-0).