Since the two schools first began staging their annual Ohio Athletic Conference regular season softball doubleheader in 1990, no John Carroll team could ever have claimed a sweep of Muskingum until the 2010 edition edition pulled off the feat Wednesday in New Concord.

On the heels of a 4-2 win in the opener, a spirited seventh inning rally in game two enabled the Blue Streaks to take two from the Muskies. Erin Riccardi's (North Canton, Hoover) two out bases loaded single plated the tying and go-ahead runs in what became a 3-2 victory in the nightcap.

Box Scores:  Game One  /  Game Two

The day did not start off as promising as it ended. Muskingum hung two runs on JCU starter Brittany Danilov (Canfield, OH, Canfield) in the third inning, but was limited to just three singles over the final four innings.

It would take until the fifth inning for the Blue Streaks to answer. After stranding five runners in the first four innings, John Carroll wasted no time in plating runs in the decisive frame.

Michelle Murphy (Erie, PA, Villa Maria Academy) led off with a single, after which Mackenzie Griffin (Lake Oswego, OR, Lakeridge) drew a one out walk. Erin Riccardi (North Canton, Hoover) followed with a single to load the bases, setting the table for Olivia Mathews (Suffield, OH, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary). In a key at bat, Mathews doubled to left center, clearing the bases and giving the Blue Streaks a 3-2 advantage.

Mathews would add an insurance run when she led off the seventh inning with a solo home run.

Danilov allowed five hits total and two runs, striking out five and walking two in levelling her record at 8-8 on the season.

Game two would be even more dramatic in terms of comebacks.

Muskingum would once again jump out to a 2-0 lead, scoring twice in the first. But starter Samantha Thompson would settle down, and not allow a run in her final five innings of work.

Still, it would take a seventh inning rally to fully support Thompson's effort. Trailing 2-1 entering the top of the final frame, John Carroll would take advantage of a one-out miscue. An error and then a walk put two runners on base, but after a line-out put the Blue Streaks down to their final out, Griffin drew the two-out walk to load the bases.

The game essentially came fown to the at bat of Riccardi, who delivered a two-run single to left field.

Danilov came in to work a scoreless bottom of the seventh to preserve the win for Thompson and pick up her first save of the season.

John Carroll is now 16-12 overall and 5-3 in the OAC.