Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Momentum can be fickle, and despite seeming to have all the ingredients going to keep momentum flowing, it stopped quickly for the John Carroll softball team Thursday.

There was a time momentum seemed to be abandoning the Blue Streaks outright, but in the end, it was a split day. In the opener, the Blue Streaks rallied from a five-run deficit to beat Bridgewater (VA), 7-6. In the nightcap, Widener took full advantage of mishaps and missed opportunities to defeat JCU, 13-5.

The Bridgewater game had all the makings of a rout. The Eagles scored twice in the first, twice in the second, and then used a solo home run blast in the third to take a 5-0 lead.

The day could have gone awry for the Blue Streaks at that juncture, but John Carroll showed some fight. Base running got JCU back two runs in the bottom of the third, and then matters got very interesting in the fourth.

After Bridgewater had scored again to make the deficit four runs, the Blue Streaks answered in the bottom of the fourth. Miranda Noday doubled to start the frame. After moving to third on a ground out, Noday waited patiently as she was joined on the base paths by Lindsay McKnight, who walked then stole second. Hannah Mizener would then come through and deliver a two-run single. JCU now trailed only by a 6-4 score.

Lauren Ogurek took her turn in the hero role, as she singled home Mizener, who had stolen second, and suddenly JCU was within a single run of Bridgewater.

Down 6-5, JCU head coach Nicole Loudin turned to freshman Madison Eagle, who would make her collegiate debut in a one-run game. When momentum is running freely, those are the kind of moves that simply work. Eagle pitched the final three innings and did not allow a run, hit or walk. She retired all but one of the ten batters she faced (one hit by pitch).

Eagle's efforts would have been for naught if the offense did not continue to deliver. The Blue Streaks did just that in the sixth. With one out and Noday and second and Olivia Schweiger on first, Mizener came through again. With two outs, Mizener ripped a double to the wall, scoring both of her teammates to put John Carroll ahead for the first time, 7-6.

A three up and three down seventh by Eagle sealed the win.

Momentum did not travel far, however. Armed with a three-game winning streak, John Carroll looked to make it four against an 0-5 Widener team. But Widener broke open a 2-2 game with seven runs in the top of the fourth to effectively take the game. Mizener had a solo home run as part of John Carroll's five runs.

John Carroll, now 3-3 in Florida and 3-6 on the year, have two games remaining in the Sunshine State. The Blue Streaks face Alfred and St. Joseph's of Maine in back-to-back contests on Friday.