On some days, Lady Luck is a generous soul. On others, she can be a cruel mistress. Tuesday fell into the latter category for the John Carroll softball squad.
 
Following a sweep of Baldwin Wallace on Monday, the Blue Streaks fell victim to Heidelberg twice on Tuesday, losing on a walkoff hit in both games in Tiffin, Ohio.
 
The Blue and Gold drop to 18-12 overall, 8-6 in Ohio Athletic Conference play, after the pair of heartbreaking defeats to the conference's top team.
 
Game One
Heidelberg 7, John Carroll 6
 
Fortune favored the Blue Streaks for much of game one against Heidelberg, but it deserted the Blue Streaks at the worst possible moment: with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Blue and Gold skirted disaster in the first six innings, managing to take a 6-4 lead into the final inning. Heidelberg finally made the Blue Streaks pay in the final inning, using a three-run rally to secure a 7-6 walkoff victory.

The 'Berg offense enjoyed an active day, recording 14 hits over seven innings. Heidelberg went to work in the first inning, loading the bases with only one out. But Byrnes emerged unscathed, forcing a lineout and striking out Kyleah Brey to end the first.

After stranding five runners in the first two frames, the 'Berg converted on an opportunity in the third.

Marissa Smego singled to start off the inning, and two batters later, Kayla Zachrich tripled to left center to score Smego. Brey and Christine Bowling then drew walks to load the bases again. Up against the wall again, Byrnes caused

Abbey McKee to line out to Christie Wade. The junior second baseman then completed a clutch double play by tagging Jordan Hux to keep the damage to a minimum.

In the bottom of the fourth, the 'Berg finally burned JCU's ace for living on the edge. Heidelberg loaded the bases with one out following back-to-back singles and a JCU error. Mikaela Mitsch tagged a two-run single to center and Zachrich knocked a single to right to up the 'Berg lead to 4-0. Byrnes then caused a pair of groundouts to stop the bleeding.

Facing a new pitcher on the mound, the Blue and Gold struck back in the fifth. Lauren Cianciolo spurred the rally with a leadoff double to left center field. Tercek then laid down a beautiful bunt, advancing Cianciolo to third and hoofing it to first for a single. With Mizener at the plate, Tercek stole second, drawing an errant throw from the catcher. The error allowed Cianciolo to score and Tercek to advance to third.

Following Heidelberg's mishap, Mizener sent a single through the left side of the infield to score Tercek. Erin Chapman then came on to pitch in relief of the beleaguered Renee Lovett and quickly recorded three outs to keep the score at 4-2.

The Blue Streaks captured the lead in the sixth with a critical hit at the right time.

Angie Zappitelli and Ally Kleinhans started the stanza by drawing back-to-back walks. Sensing danger, Heidelberg turned to reliever Paige Atterholt. Ashlee Unrue didn't take notice, blasting a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall for a three-run home run. The roundtripper granted the Blue and Gold a 5-4 lead. Before the inning ended, JCU added one more run on an RBI double by Cianciolo.

The 'Berg trailed by three entering the bottom of the seventh. Byrnes had remained resolute over the previous two innings, but the senior ran out of gas in the seventh. Brey drew a walk to start the inning, and two batters later, McKee tagged to the left side of the infield. Another Byrnes walk loaded the bases with one out. A lineout to Unrue marked the second out, but the third out would elude the Blue and Gold.

Lovett blasted a two-run double to left and Smego singled to right, plating three runs and dashing JCU's hopes of a victory over the OAC's top team.

Mizener led the Blue Streaks at the plate, hitting 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Unrue also had a great game, finishing 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI.

Game Two
Heidelberg 2, JCU 1
 
The second game innocently enough for both teams, as JCU and Heidelberg combined for just six hits in the first three innings.

The Blue Streaks broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth. Mizener doubled down the left field line to start the stanza. Atterholt recorded two quick outs before Wade snuck a single into right field, scoring Mizener and granting JCU a 1-0 lead.

The 'Berg promptly responded in the bottom half of the frame. Thanks to an error and a pair of singles, Heidelberg loaded the bases with one out. Kaitlyn Keys shot an RBI single to knot the game at one. Ann Marie Kirchner then ended the threat, forcing a double play to keep the score tied at one.

In a departure from game one, both offenses went stagnant. Kirchner and Atterholt pitched gems for the next two and a half innings, allowing just four hits between them over that stretch.

Heidelberg finally figured out Kirchner in the bottom of the seventh. The 'Berg started off the frame with a single, courtesy of Taylor Hicks. Smego then reached base on a bunt to put two runners on with no outs. Zachrich then stepped up to the plate for her fourth at bat of the day. Kirchner had handled the junior in their previous meetings, but this time Zachrich punched a single to center. The hit scored Hicks and bestowed the 'Berg with a 2-1 walkoff victory and sweep of the Blue Streaks.

Alyssa Coleman led JCU at the plate in game two, hitting 2-for-3 with a double.