Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Searching for offensive momentum with the regular season winding down, the John Carroll University softball team had a big hurdle to clear in No. 5 Trine, winners of 29 straight entering the day.
 
After Trine extended its win streak to 30 with a 3-1 win in the first game, John Carroll looked poised to run away in the second game. The Thunder attempted to make a comeback but the Blue Streaks remained composed to take the 7-4 win and halt Trine's win streak at 30.

JCU handed Trine its first loss since a 1-0 setback to Coe College in Florida on March 2.

"I'm really proud of how we battled today and kept swinging for all seven innings of game two," said head coach Nicole Loudin. "If we keep that approach through the next four games we can do some great things."
 
Game One
Morgan Robinson broke through for her sixth home run of the year but Trine ace Bree Fuller struck out 14 Blue Streaks in the first game.
 
Robinson homered in the sixth inning to score JCU's only run of the opening game with a solo shot to right center.
 
Kaitlyn Clark put the Thunder on the board with a 1-out home run in the top of the first inning. Trine would add a run in the second and one in the third.
 
John Carroll was finally able to muster some offense against Fuller in the fifth inning. Colleen Brady drew a 1-out walk and advanced to second on Rebecca Reid's 2-out single to left.
 
Rachel Byrnes took the loss to fall to 13-8 on the season. The junior allowed seven hits while striking out three.
 
Game Two
Defensive miscues have haunted John Carroll is several games this season. In the second game it was time for the Blue Streaks to be the haunter. John Carroll pulled off the 7-4 upset.
 
Reid's slow roller to first base was misplayed by Brittany Banks in the bottom of the fourth inning allowing Carly Simecek and Alyssa Coleman to come in the score and put JCU up 3-1. The Blue and Gold kept rolling with Ashlee Unrue delivering a 2-out, 2-run homer to left field to make it a 5-1 lead for the Blue and Gold.

 "We've been talking all season about being patient and that when we hit the ball hard and force the defense to make plays good things happen," said Loudin.

John Carroll never looked back after taking the lead in the fourth inning.
 
Kendra Marshall laced an RBI single in the top of the first inning but John Carroll answered right back in the bottom of the first inning.
 
Coleman delivered with a 2-out double for her first of two doubles in the contest to bring around Samantha Becker and knot the score at one.
 
The sophomore delivered again in the fifth inning with a sharp single up the middle that Thunder shortstop Haleigh Daniels could not cut off. The hit brought in Morgan Robinson who hit a 1-out single to right and advanced all of the way to third on a Trine error. John Carroll would make it a 7-2 lead when Lia Locey scooted a hit in down the right field line.
 
The Blue and Gold appeared to catch a break on the bases as Carly Searles was caught leaving early in the top of the third inning. Loudin chose to take the out for the runner leaving early over the result of the play. However, Clark made JCU pay responding with a solo homer to center.
 
Trine threatened for a big inning in the sixth pushing two runs across and having the bases loaded. Byrnes entered in relief and slammed the door shut on the Tunder getting Daniels to fly out and striking out Searles to end the inning.
 
Byrnes recorded three quick outs in the seventh after Clark reached to start the inning to pick up her second save of the season.
 
Brianna Lach picked up the win to move to 2-3 on the season allowing six hits over five innings of work. Coleman led the upset at the plate going 3-for-3 with two RBIs.

It was a banner day foir the John Carroll pitching staff as Trine had scored at least five runs in 28 of its first 31 games this season in going 30-1. Today, the duo of Byrnes and Lach held the Thunder to under five in both games.
 
John Carroll closes its home portion of the regular season with a doubleheader versus Marietta on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.