Box Scores:  Game 1 vs BW  /  Game 2 vs. BW

A dramatic ending to game one had a carryover effect in game two, as John Carroll swept crosstown and league rival Baldwin-Wallace Friday afternoon at Bracken Field in a key Ohio Athletic Conference showdown with multiple postseason implications.

The Blue Streaks came from behind in the bottom of the seventh to win game one, 3-2. After trailing early in game two, JCU scored three runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back in completing the sweep with a 3-1 victory.

The pair of wins not only enabled John Carroll set a single season school record for victories but also clinched an OAC Tournament berth for the Blue Streaks for the second consecutive year and third time overall.

John Carroll's Brittany Danilov (Canfield, OH, Canfield) and Baldwin-Wallace's Sarah Baker engagded in a pitcher's duel in game one. Neither allowed a run over the first four innings, but it would be the Blue Streaks who would break through first. With two outs and a runner at second, Jamie Smrdel (Kirtland, OH, Beaumont)delivered a two-out RBI double to score Michelle Murphy for a 1-0 JCU lead.

The 1-0 advantage looked like it would hold, as Danilov was still cruising. She allowed just three hits in the first six innings.

But the yellow jackets final broke through in the seventh. A pair of lead off singles led to a Katrina Resek RBI single that tied the game at 1-1. That run broke a run of 38 consecutive scoreless innings by Danilov.

To make matters worse, the Yellow Jackets plated another run on an infield single to take a 2-1 lead. Danilov eventually got out of the inning on a bases loaded fielder's choice and a fly out to left.

The Blue Streaks appeared to be in trouble after Baker recorded outs on two of the first three batters she faced in the bottom of the seventh, issuing a walk to Julie Marlowe (Harmony, PA, Seneca Valley)between a pair of ground outs. But Erin Riccardi (North Canton, Hoover High School)would drive home Marlowe with a two-out single to tie the game at 2-2.

After Jamie Smrdel was intentionally walked, Angela Vistocco (Victor, NY, Victor)would make the Yellow Jackets pay by blasting a game-winning single to score Riccardi from second, who beat the throw to the plate.

Danilov struck out five and walked one in picking up her team record 17th win of 2009.

The nightcap was less dramatic, as all four runs in the game were scored in the opening frame. The Yellow Jackets tallied their lone run on a one-out groundout that scored Mallory Kobak -- who led the game off with a double -- from third base.

The Streaks answered right back in the bottom of the first. Marlowe drew a walk and then was sacrificed to second. After Riccardi popped up for the second out, Baldwin-Wallace elected to once again intentionally walk Smrdel.

As she did in game one, Vistocco made Baldwin-Wallace pay for that choice. Only this time, Vistocco deposited a Mackenzie Rohrbacher pitch over the left field fence for a three-run home run.

The three runs would hold up as Danilov and Sam Thompson (Cheektowaga, NY, Maryvale)would limit Baldwin-Wallace to eight hits and one run in seven innings. Danilov improved to 18-5 while Thompson worked 2.2 innings for her first save of the season.

John Carroll is now 26-8 overall and 12-4 in the OAC. The 26 wins eclipses the record of 24 wins set in 2000 and 2003, and the 12 OAC wins are also the most league wins by a JCU team in program history.