The John Carroll softball team (8-8, 1-3 OAC) got their first conference win of the season as they split a doubleheader in Ada, Ohio against Ohio Northern (17-5, 3-1 OAC).

The Blue Streaks had a chance to sweep a team that began the day at 16-4 and 2-0 in OAC play. 

Game One - ONU 6, JCU 5 (9)

John Carroll softball team fell in game one of their double header to Ohio Northern, 6-5, in nine innings.

Jennie Broski was 1-for-4 with a two-run home run. Angie Zappitelli was also 1-for-4 with a two-run blast. AnnMarie Kirchner (L, 2-2) pitched all nine innings for JCU.

The Blue Streaks got on the scoreboard in the first inning. Lauren Ciancolo doubled to center field and Carly Simecek singled to left field, bringing in the first run of the contest.

Zappitelli recorded her fourth homerun of the season in the fourth inning, driving in two runs and giving JCU a 3-1 lead.

The Polar Bears would respond with a run of their own, and would capitalize in the fifth inning scoring three runs from a hit by Hailee Loughman. A Blue Streak error on a hit by Gia Saturday.  Ohio Northern took a 5-3 lead into the sixth inning.
In the top half of the sixth, John Carroll answered when Broski hit her first homerun of the season, driving in two runs and tying the game at 5.

This would be the last offensive production until extra innings. In the bottom of the ninth, with the bases loaded and only one out, a hit-by-pitch brought in a run and secured the victory for Ohio Northern.

Game Two - JCU 5, ONU 0

The Blue Streaks secured the win with five runs and a strong performance from Kelly Geringer. John Carroll jumped out to an early lead when a Zappitelli single drove in Hannah Mizener in the first inning.

Lauren Cianciolo and Lindsay McKnight each had a pair of hits and drove in a run. Victoria Eder and Zappitelli had an RBI each as well. Geringer threw a complete game five-hitter, striking out four and facing just 28 batters.

John Carroll took advantage of an error in the third when Zappitelli hit the ball into left field, scoring McKnight and giving the Blue Streaks a 2-0 lead. With two outs in the fourth, Cianciolo smacked a triple and Miranda Noday scored all the way from first to increase the John Carroll lead to three.

Ohio Northern threatened in the sixth inning but with runners on second and third and one out, but Geringer got Swierz and Loughman to pop out to end the inning.

Cianciolo doubled to start the top of the seventh inning and was driven home two batters later by a McKnight single. A Victoria Eder single brought McKnight home with two outs to give the Blue Streaks a 5-0 lead and seal the victory.

The Polar Bears loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Geringer prevailed and completed her five hit complete game shutout.

Next, the Blue Streaks will host a doubleheader against crosstown rival Baldwin Wallace on Wednesday, Apr. 5 at 3:00 p.m.