John Carroll softball celebrated Senior Day on Saturday afternoon, but did not earn a win as Muskingum took both games, 7-6 (9), 7-5.

Eight seniors were honored for their dedication to the softball program before the first game: pitchers AnnMarie Kirchner, Brianna Lach and Kayla Navratil, infielders Carly Simecek, Victoria Eder and Angie Zappitelli, and outfielders Mikki Vance and Lauren Cianciolo.

Game 1 - Muskingum 7, John Carroll 6 (9)

Simecek, Cianciolo and Zappitelli – three of the eight seniors on the roster – spearheaded the Blue and Gold offense, but the Blue Streaks came up just short in a  7-6 extra innings loss.

The trio combined for six hits, four runs and four RBI while Kirchner pitched four innings and struck out six.

John Carroll took advantage of four errors committed by the road nine, but left seven runners in scoring position. Following a five-pitch inning from Kirchner in the top half of the first, JCU broke the scoring barrier courtesy of Zappitelli's two-run double to plate Cianciolo  and Simecek.

Kirchner cruised through another sharp frame of work before surrendering two unearned runs on a passed ball and bases-loaded walk to even the score at 2-2. JCU tallied another run on a Cianciolo triple and Simecek RBI single to regain a 3-2 advantage. Shortly thereafter, Muskingum scored four runs, including two unearned scores.

Hannah Mizener notched an RBI single in the fourth to bring JCU within two before a key seventh inning rally.

Simecek singled and Lindsay McKnight reached on a fielder's choice and error to load the bases with one out.  Zappitelli and Jennie Broski furthered the rally with a RBI walk and a second error to tie the game at 6-6.

Another scoreless inning ensued before Rachel Eberling hit a go-ahead solo shot to right field off Jessica Cook, her fifth of the campaign.

The Blue Streaks were retired in the bottom of the ninth to give opposing starter Haley Dotson the complete game victory.

Game 2 - Muskingum 7, John Carroll 5

The latter half of the doubleheader was another see-saw affair, featuring three lead changes and late offense.

After holding the lead for just three innings, Muskingum scored five runs in the fifth and sixth innings to pull ahead in the later stages of the contest and win 7-5.

Lach (3.0 IP), Kelly Geringer (2.0 IP) and Cook (2.0 IP) combined to allow six earned runs on 14 hits. Multi-hit performances from Broski, Simecek and Quinn Sobieszczanski supported the pitching trio.

JCU tallied one run in each of the first two frames on Simecek's RBI groundout and Broski's RBI single down the right field line to score Sobieszczanski.

Muskingum answered and hung a crooked number in the third thanks to a two-run blast off the bat of Haylea Debolt.

The teams eventually exchanged runs on a RBI single by Sobieszczanski and three-run homer by Jessica Matthews to put the score at 5-3 in favor of the Fighting Muskies heading to the bottom of the fifth inning.

JCU climbed back into the ballgame with a two-run fifth, but the Fighting Muskies were able to reclaim a 7-5 lead. Eder (RBI single) and McKnight (sac fly) were responsible for the club's offensive contributions.

The score remained unchanged for the remaining portion of the game as the Blue Streaks record moved to 17-15, 7-9 OAC.

Up next, the Blue Streaks open a four-game stretch of non-conference competition beginning on Monday against Ohio Wesleyan University at 3:30 p.m. in Delaware, Ohio.