After a long wait due to rain in the Columbus area, the John Carroll softball team finally got to play the Ohio Athletic Conference opener against Capital.

The home Crusaders (9-9) silenced the Blue Streaks on offense, topping JCU (6-8) in both games.

GAME ONE

Capital scored in the first inning, and that was all the Crusaders needed, winning 3-0 in the first game.

JCU notched two hits, with Carly Simecek going 1-for-3 and a double from Lindsay McKnight. AnnMarie Kirchner (2-3) allowed three runs in six innings of work, striking out six Crusaders. Kirchner allowed just one earned run on the afternoon.

The Crusaders scored two in the fourth inning, ending the scoring.

GAME TWO

The Blue Streaks got on the board, but could not mount a seventh inning rally as th Crusaders took game two, 5-1.

Brianna Lach drops to 2-2 after a five inning effort, and Amber Martinelli improves to 5-1.

Martinelli held JCU to two hits through six innings, including singles from Lauren Cianciolo and Angie Zappitelli. In the seventh, Simecek crushed a leadoff triple to right field. After two straight outs, JCU got on the board as Simecek scored on a wild pitch.

It was the only run for JCU, as Capital closed out the game.

Next up for John Carroll is the home opener against Ohio Wesleyan University. First pitch at Bracken Field is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.