John Carroll and Case Western Reserve both experienced the highs and lows of a final dramatic swing of the bat Thuraday afternoon at Brecken Field.

In game one, a dramatic last swing of the bat resulted in a walk-off three run home run by Carly Simecek for a spirited 5-2 John Carroll victory. In the nightcap, it was a dramatic last swing of the bat that missed with bases loaded which enabled Case Reserve to escape with a 6-3 victory.

The opener was a picthers duel between Ann Marie Kirchner of JCU and Annie Wennerberg of CWRU. The two hurlers allowed a combined one run and four hits through the first five innings as John Carroll clung to a 1-0 lead.

All the offensive action took place over the final two innings. First, in the top of the sixth, the Spartans -- who had just one hit off Kirchner through the first five frames -- got two hits and their first run. Wennerberg helped her own cause with a two-out RBi single.

Alyssa Coleman responded in the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run to put John Carroll back on top. JCU threatened to add on with runners on second and third and less than two outs, but could not cash in.

That proved damaging, as Case Reserve tied the game at 2-2 when pinch hitter Maren Waldner delivered an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2. The Blue Streaks were able to get a big out on the same play, however, when a Spartan base runner got tagged out after over-running third base.

In the bottom of the seventh, Wennerberg got the first two outs but then Hannah Mizener and Coleman kept hope alive with back-to-back hits. That set up Simecek, who produced her dramatic three-run home run over the center field fence.

Kirchner picked up her ninth win, allowing two runs on five hits.

Case Reserve got its revenge in game two, but John Carroll made the Spartans earn it right down to the last out.

The visitors led 3-1 after five innings, 4-2 after six, and 6-2 entering the bottom of the seventh when the Blue Streaks mustered a rally. Hits by Angie Zappitelli and Ashlee Unrue and a walk by Lauren Cianciolo set the table for John Carroll's 2-3-4 hitters with one out.

Taylor Tercek delivered an infield single to make the score 6-3 and keep the bases loaded. But undefeated Case Reserve starting pitcher Rebecca Taylor came through big by getting Mizener to pop up, and then Coleman to strikeout on a 3-2 pitch.

John Carroll is now 19-13 following today's action, while Case Reserve is now 22-11.