Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Given that collegiate softball employs an eight-run mercy rule after five innings, the seven-run comeback is indeed a rare occurence in the sport.

John Carroll chose the right time to fly in the face of convention. Trailing 13-6 after six innings of play in their opening round game of the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament against top-seeded Ohio Northern, the Blue Streaks stunned the Polar Bears with an eight-run frame to pull off the epic 14-13 victory.

The two teams traded haymakers early on. JCU had leads of 2-0 and 5-3 before the hosts erupted. Ohio Northern plated six runs in the fourth inning to chase starter Rachel Byrnes, then added four more in the fifth to take a 13-6 lead.

Neither team scored runs in the sixth. Had Ohio Northern managed even one, the game would have ended with the eight run margin.

As it stood, JCU trailed by only seven runs when the seventh inning began.

Alyssa Coleman began the improbable rally with a solo home run off of Paige Ordean. Then with one out, an innocuous walk was issued to Lia Locey. She would be the first of five consecutive Blue Streaks to reach base safely.

Rebecca Reid was hit by a pitch, which was followed by a Ashlee Unrue single to load the bases. Samantha Becker then drew a walk after fouling off five pitches to drive home a run that made the score 13-8.

Erica Chiudioni came through with a two-run double to bring John Carroll to within 13-10. Ordean, however, induced a ground out from Morgan Robinson in the next at bat to put the Polar Bears one out away from closing the door on the Blue Streaks.

With two out and runners on second and third, Carly Simecek was able to draw a four-pitch walk to load the bases.

Coleman stepped to the plate for the second time in the inning.

In one swing of the bat, Coleman brought delirium to the John Carroll dugout, as she hit her second home run of the inning, the game, the season and her career to put John Carroll ahead, 14-13.

The Blue Streaks added two more hits before the inning ended.

It was then up to reliever Gina Tosti to shut the door. A two-out walk to Adriana Sikora did not come back to haunt as Tosti struck out Ohio Northern's all-time hits leader, Christin Miller, for the final out and the win.

Coleman finished the game by going 4-5 with two runs and six RBI. Robinson was 2-5 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI.

Tosti worked three and two-thirds innings to pick up her third win of the year. She allowed four runs on just two hits, and struck out five while walking one.

John Carroll advanced in the championship bracket to face Muskingum, a 12-11 winner in eight innings over Marietta in the morning game that opened the tournament.

The Blue Streaks took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Becker scored on a throwing error, and Chiudioni came across the dish on an RBI by Simecek.

But the Muskies scored four times off Brianna Lach in the third and two more in the fifth to build a commanding 6-2 lead. JCU managed just one more run the rest of the way -- an RBI double by Coleman in the sixth -- and fell by a final score of 6-3.

The loss puts John Carroll in an elimination game against a familiar foe. The Blue Streaks will face Ohio Northern on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. for the right to stay in the tournament and face Muskingum later in the day with an automatic NCAA Championship bid on the line.