Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 On a partly cloudy 42-degree March day in Bexley, Ohio, runs were hard to come by. So much so that only four were scored all day.

They were even harder to come by for John Carroll, which could only claim one of the four.

John Carroll was finally back in action after a 15-day layoff since Spring Break, and the host Capital Crusaders took advantage of the Blue Streaks time off to come away with a pair of one run victories in the Ohio Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

In a pair of games where runs were scarce, the pitchers and strong defense stole the show. The Blue Streaks pitching staff of junior Jessica Cook and sophomore Jenn Patterson combined for a 1.34 ERA in 15.2 combined innings of work on the afternoon.

In game one, the Blue Streaks offensively recorded a hit in every inning besides one, but were unable to push a run across the plate.

Patterson was called on to get the start for the Blue and Gold in which she started out hot retiring 11 out of the first 12 hitters in the ballgame.

In the top of the third inning the Blue Streaks threatened when sophomore Caitlin Fitzsimmons and junior Quinn Sobieszczanski lead off the inning with back-to- back singles. Miranda Noday was able to advance both of the runners with a sacrifice bunt, but the inning game to an end when the Crusaders were able to turn a 3-5 double play to escape danger.

In the bottom of the fifth, Capital had a big opportunity of their own. Following two singles and an error, the Crusaders found themselves with the bases loaded and only one out. However, Patterson was able to lock in and force a fly out and a groundout in consecutive at bats to avert damage and keep the score knotted at zero.

After not being able to push a run across in the fifth, Capitals's Bailey Walter took matters into her own hands as she hit a solo homerun with one out to give the Crusaders the 1-0 lead.

The Blue Streaks rally would fall short in the seventh and the Crusaders would take the victory in game one, 1-0.

Patterson finished the game allowing just five hits and surrendering one earned run.

In game two of the doubleheader defense and pitching was on display again and seven innings was not enough to settle the contest.

The Crusaders were the first to strike in the second inning after stringing together three hits to take the 1-0 advantage.

The Blue Streaks threatened in the fifth after junior Lauren Ogurek reached on an error with one out. Junior Nicole Geringer followed Ogurek with the Blue Streaks first hit of the afternoon to put runners on first and second. Junior Jennie Broski then grounded a fielder's choice to the pitcher to advance both runners into scoring position. However, the inning came to the end when the Crusaders were able to force a groundout to keep John Carroll scoreless.

In the top of the seventh, the Blue Streaks took advantage of their last opportunity as Hannah Mizener drilled a home run to left field to spark the Blue Streaks offense and to tie the game at one.

In the bottom half of the inning, Cook locked in and recorded three straight groundouts to send the game to extra innings.

After a scoreless eighth for the Blue Streaks, Cook was able to once again retire the side and send the game into a ninth inning.

In the ninth, Ogurek and Senior Maggie Gannon were able to reach on consecutive errors by Capital. Broski then followed with a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third with two outs. Capital was able to escape trouble again forcing consecutive outs to keep the game tied at one.

Capital in the bottom half of the ninth was able to break the tie and secure the second victory of the afternoon after Pam Vickers singled to center with two outs to win 2-1 in nine innings.

Cook finished the game pitching 8.2 innings while allowing two runs on nine hits.

With the two losses the Blue Streaks fall to 5-8 (0-2 OAC) and Capital improves to 4-12 (2-0 OAC).

Next up for the Blue Streaks, they will host their home opener on Tuesday against Ohio Wesleyan in a double header at Bracken Field. Game times are slated for 3:30 and 5:30 pm.