Left fielder Morgan Robinson had one hit and two walks in the Blue Streaks' first ever NCAA Tournament game
Box Score Numerous runners left on base and the inability to produce timely hits cost John Carroll University dearly Thursday afternoon, as the Blue Streaks dropped a 3-2 decision to the University of Chicago in the opening round of the Alma (MI) College Regional.
JCU, playing in its first-ever NCAA Tournament game, had offensive chances in nearly every inning, but could not get over the hump against the Maroons on a sunny day at Scots Park in Alma, Michigan.
The Blue Streaks tried to rally in the seventh inning, down 3-2, after a lead-off double by sophomore
Morgan Robinson put the tying run aboard. Two batters later,
Mackenzie Griffin singled, allowing Robinson to advance to third with one out in the inning. The Blue & Gold bats would turn ice cold, however, as
Erin Riccardi popped out to shortstop and
Heather Hurley struck out looking to end the game, stranding the tying run at third.
The Blue Streaks left eight runners on the base paths in the game while Chicago stranded just two. The Blue & Gold had a golden opportunity to cash in on runs after Robinson and Sam Becker led off the third inning with a walk and a double, respectively. Despite the promising outlook, three consecutive strike outs prevented JCU from putting any runs on the board.
Senior pitcher
Brittany Danilov made one mistake back in the second when the Maroons' nine-hitter, junior shortstop Vicky Tomaka, came up with two runners on and hit a towering home run into the Alma sky that gave Chicago the only three runs it needed.
Danilov, who was credited with the loss in the contest, falls to 22-6 on the season.
Junior Kim Cygan picks up the victory for Chicago, pitching a complete game and allowing only two runs on six hits. She struck out six JCU hitters.
The Blue & Gold will face elimination from the NCAA Tournament tomorrow morning when they square off with Geneva at 10:00 a.m. in game number five of the 2012 Alma Regional of the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament. All the action can be heard right here on
www.jcusports.com.
