With a little help from her friends,
Jessica Cook achieved every pitcher's dream: perfection.
Cook slammed the door on Wednesday, retiring all 21 batters faced in the second game of a double header with Hiram College and tossing the first perfect game in program history. Cook's perfect game ensured a sweep as the Blue Streaks topped the Terriers in the non-conference matchup, 5-0, 7-0.
It was the first time since Apr. 13, 2015 that JCU held an opponent without a hit. John Carroll improves to 7-7 on the year with the back-to-back victories.
Game 1: John Carroll 5, Hiram 0
It was smooth sailing for the Blue Streaks in the first game of the double feature. John Carroll added three runs in the opening inning, taking an early advantage and giving starting pitcher
AnnMarie Kirchner all the insurance that she needed.
A
Carly Simecek single scored
Lauren Cianciolo from third base, starting the opening inning rally.
Angie Zappitelli put the bow on the inning with a two run home run over the deep center field fence at the newly renovated Bracken Field.
Kirchner took the early lead and went to work. Kirchner tossed a complete game shutout, allowing just three hits and striking out five batters as the game one starter for the Blue Streaks. The senior pitcher moves to 2-1 on the year while Hiram starting pitcher, Brittany Zaj takes the loss and moves to 1-2.
Both teams would be held scoreless until the fourth inning when
Victoria Eder hit a two run home run over the left field wall, giving the Blue Streaks a 5-0 lead. The two run shot was Eder's first career home run.
Kirchner kept Hiram off of the board for the next three inning to preserve her fourth career shutout and earning the Blue Streaks a 5-0 victory in game number one.
Game 2: John Carroll 7, Hiram 0
History was made in the second game of the double feature.
Starting pitcher
Jessica Cook through a perfect game, holding the Terriers without a hit or run scored in seven innings of work. The sophomore improves to 3-0 on the year behind a tremendous performance in the pitcher's circle and a bevvy of offensive support.
Game two was a pitcher's duel between Cook and Hiram starting pitcher, Makenzie Dombrowski, with Cook's perfect game overshadowing Dombrowski's performance. It was just a one run game heading into the seventh inning, which is when the floodgates opened. John Carroll manufactured a six-run seventh inning, consisting of two doubles and three singles.
Cianciolo started the RBI fest with a one out RBI double, scoring
Olivia Schweiger. Simecek singled to score Cianciolo from second base. Zappitelli then took the baton and singled to center field, scoring Simecek. The Blue Streaks would then load the bases, thanks to a
Lindsay McKnight walk and Eder single. Sobieszczanski cleared the bases with a double, bringing the Blue Streaks to a 7-0 lead.
Cook came into the seventh inning to complete the perfect game. The sophomore pitcher faced Dombrowski, forcing her to fly out to deep left field for out number one. Cook then forced Hiram's Alexus Acton to fly out to deep center field for the second out.
Hiram's Shalynn Call then stepped to the plate with two outs and the last battle for Cook on her quest for perfection. With a 2-0 count, Call sent a slow roller towards Cook. She gathered the ground ball, walked towards first base and made the soft toss for the out. Perfection was cemented with Cook making the final out.
