After finishing the 2014 regular season with three consecutive victories, all of which were much-needed, the Blue Streaks have earned themselves the No. 4 seed in the 2014 Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament.

The Blue Streaks (18-16, 10-8 OAC) defeated Trine University, who is ranked seventh nationally, by a score of 7-4 on Monday, April 21. That game helped give the Blue Streaks confidence and momentum heading into their final two games of the regular season.

On Saturday, April 26 – the final day of the regular season ­– the Blue and Gold played host to the OAC rival Marietta Pioneers. Heading into the doubleheader, JCU was on the outside looking in on the OAC Tournament bracket. Meanwhile, the Pioneers were in first place in the conference and looking to lock up the No. 1 seed.

Needing a sweep over Marietta to have any hope of making the OAC Tournament, JCU rose to the occasion. In the final home games of her career, senior Sam Becker went 6-8 with three home runs, three RBIs and four runs scored to lead the Blue Streaks to a pair of victories, 5-4 and 6-1, over the Pioneers.

With the help of some conference opponents beating up on each other, everything fell into place perfectly for the Blue Streaks as they clinched the No. 4 seed in the OAC Tournament. JCU earned a berth in the Tournament for the seventh consecutive year, and last won the Tournament in 2012.

Now, the Blue and Gold will play top-seeded Ohio Northern (20-17, 12-6 OAC) in their first game of the Tournament. The Blue Streaks swept the Polar Bears handily during the regular season, winning at home by scores of 9-1 and 11-6. Becker went a combined 6-8 with three runs, two RBIs and one home run in those games. Aside from Becker, two underclassmen also stepped up for JCU: freshman Carly Simecek went 4-6 with three home runs, six RBIs and five runs scored and sophomore Alyssa Coleman went 6-7 with three runs and two RBIs.

The winner of JCU and ONU will advance to play the winner of No. 2 Muskingum (23-15, 12-6 OAC) and No. 3 Marietta (21-15, 11-7 OAC) while the loser of each game will also play each other in the second round.

JCU and ONU will play at noon on Friday, May 2 at ONU softball field in Ada, Ohio. Live stats for all games can be found online on ONU's website at http://www.onusports.com/sports/sball/oacs.

Full tournament schedule:

Friday, May 2
• Game 1 - #3 Marietta v #2 Muskingum, 10 a.m.
• Game 2 - #4 John Carroll v #1 Ohio Northern, Noon
• Game 3 - Game 1 Winner v Game 2 Winner, 2 p.m.
• Game 4 - Game 1 Loser v Game 2 Loser, 4 p.m.

Saturday, May 3
•Game 5 - Winner Game 4 v Loser Game 3, 11 a.m.
•Game 6 - Winner Game 3 v Winner Game 5, 1 p.m.
 
Sunday, May 4
•Game 7 - Winner Game 6 v Loser Game 6, If Necessary, Noon