Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 There was not necessarily a sigh of relief from the John Carroll softball team as much as a feeling of "that's more like it" when all was said and done Saturday at Bracken Field.

Following a rare, disappointing sweep at home to Wilmington on Wednesday, the John Carroll University softball team entered Saturday's doubleheader against Ohio Northern with a renewed sense of determination.

JCU's offense certainly benefited from the new attitude, as the Blue and Gold piled up 18 runs and four home runs in a sweep of the Polar Bears on a chilly afternoon in University Heights.

Carly Simecek starred for the Blue Streaks in the wins, as the freshman went a combined 4-for-6 with three home runs and six RBIs. Alyssa Coleman also proved to be a tough out for ONU. The sophomore hit an outstanding 6-for-7 on the day with three doubles and two RBIs.

Rachel Byrnes received credit both wins, giving her an 8-7 record on the year. The Blue Streaks now sit at .500 with a 10-10 record, including a 4-4 mark in Ohio Athletic Conference play.
"The hitting came together and they came together as a full team for all 12 innings," head coach Nicole Loudin said.
 
Game One

JCU's resolve showed in game one, as the Blue Streaks run-ruled the Polar Bears after five innings, 9-1.

The Blue and Gold burst out of the gate with a six-run first inning to set the tone for the rest of the game. Samantha Becker tagged a double to center field to start off the big inning, scoring two batters later on a RBI sacrifice fly by Morgan Robinson. Simecek then hammered a two-run blast over the right field wall, extending the lead to three.

Coleman kept the rally alive with a single down the right field line. Colleen Brady then reached base on an error, allowing Coleman to reach second. Lia Locey took advantage of the pair of runners in scoring position, tagging a double to left center to score Coleman and Brady. Rebecca Reid singled to right center to score Locey and round out the scoring in the opening inning for JCU.

In between JCU's scoring, Byrnes took the mound for the Blue Streaks. The junior stymied ONU's batters, keeping the Polar Bears off the board.

Coleman proved to be a catalyst for the JCU offense once again in the second inning, doubling to right center with two outs. Brady brought Coleman home on the next at-bat, sending a single down the left field line to put JCU up by seven.

Gina Tosti came in the game in the top of the fourth inning for the Blue Streaks. The sophomore got into a jam following a pair of ONU singles by Kelly Sheridan and Taylor Manahan and a wild pitch. Tosti emerged with only one run allowed after a single by Adrianna Sikora. The rest was smooth sailing for Tosti, who quickly blew through the fifth inning.

The Blue Streaks answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning. Simecek and Coleman each tabbed singles before Locey notched an RBI single to right field to score Simecek.

After the Polar Bears failed to score in the top of the fifth, the Blue Streaks ended the contest in the bottom half of the inning. After an Ashlee Unrue walk and a Becker single, Robinson singled up the middle to score Unrue and end the contest by run-rule, 9-1.

Simecek and Coleman combined for five of JCU's 14 hits in the middle of the order, while Locey led the Blue and Gold with three RBIs at the seven spot.
 
Game Two

The second half of the twinbill did not start off as well for the Blue and Gold. With Brianna Lach on the hill, ONU's leadoff hitter Sikora blasted a deep home run to center field to grant the Polar Bears an early lead.

John Carroll responded with a big inning of its own. Becker led off the inning with a single to right, and Erica Chiudioni followed up with a walk. Simecek then came up big once again, lifting a beautiful blast over the right field wall. Her second homer of the day gave JCU the lead back, 3-1.

The Blue Streaks stayed on the attack in the second inning. Reid knocked a double to right center that sparked a four-run frame. Unrue reached base via an ONU error on the next at-bat. She advanced to second on an error, while Reid scored on a subsequent error. Unrue then stole third, allowing her to score on an RBI groundout by Becker.

Coleman brought two more runs home for JCU later in the inning following an ONU error and a fielder's choice. When the dust settled, the Blue and Gold held a 7-1 advantage.

The Polar Bears struck back in the top of the third with a big rally.

Bree Hiteshaw started the inning with a single to right center. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, Hiteshaw scored on a Carly McKenzie double. Christin Miller followed suit with a single to score McKenzie. Simecek caught Miller stealing on a wicked throw down to second, but the Polar Bears were not done.

With two outs, Jamie Westenkrchnr and Sheridan both walked, keeping the inning alive. Colleen Baliga singled to load the bases before Amanda Lahti tabled two with a single up the middle. Lindsay Simmons then singled to right, plating another run and ending Lach's day.

Byrnes promptly put an end to ONU's rally, causing the catalyst of the rally, Hiteshaw, to pop up to third base. But the damage was done, as the Polar Bears had narrowed the JCU lead to 7-6.
Simecek responded with another towering home run, this time a solo shot to left field in the bottom of the fourth. The blast was Simecek's third of the day and fourth of the season.
"She has been hitting like that in practice all season, it was nice to see it translate to a game," Loudin said.

Becker added to the lead with a home run of her own in the fifth, as he poked one over the center field fall to stretch JCU's lead to 9-6 heading into the final two frames.

The Blue Streaks added more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, as Brady and Locey each recorded an RBI to give Byrnes plenty of breathing room.

The Polar Bears could not answer in the top of the seventh, allowing JCU to notch its first sweep of the season.

"This was the first time we played a full doubleheader since probably our first time in Florida. That's why we got two wins for the first time since our first day in Florida," Loudin said. "We did all the little things, which was nice today…We had base running, we had hits, we had productive outs. We did all those little things that put it together."