For all the things that had gone against the John Carroll softball team the last few weeks, enough went right in the second game of a doubleheader at Heidelberg to bring an end to a nine-game skid that had ripped momentum away from a sensational start to the year. A 7-3 victory in the nightcap put smiles on the softball faces for the first time ina . long time.

Game One

The opening contest of an OAC matchup against Heidelberg University at Frann's Field in Tiffin, Ohio, seemed like a movie the Blue Streaks had seen before.

In the first inning, senior Quinn Sobieszczanski and junior Miranda Noday got on base. Noday using her speed stole 2nd leading the team with her 8th stolen base on the year. But nothing would come of it, and it set the tone for what would eventually become a 2-0 loss. 

JCU managed just six hits in support of another quality start by Jenn Patterson, who fell to 6-8 despite allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits in six innings, striking out six and walking one. Sobieszczanski went 3-3 and Kristen Jesberger had two hits, but the issue was stringing the hits together. It took until the seventh inning for John Carroll to amass multiple hits in the same inning. With one out, freshman Emma Gurley singled to third base, after which Jesberger singled up the middle to send Gurley to second. But consecutive ground outs would end the game.

Game Two

The dry spell would end for John Carroll as a burst of offense came in the second game matchup against Heidelberg. the Blue Streaks collected with 11 hits. It was the first time since March 28 against Ohio Wesleyan (JCU's last win until today) that the Blue Streaks had reached double figures in hits.

It was also a patient team in game two, as John Carroll drew five walks.

"We did a really good job in game two of letting the ball get into our zone and driving their pitching," said head coach Nicole Loudin. "We also had some great at bats to get hits and walks in key situations."

Starting off swinging in the second inning, Gurley sparked the offense with a single while her teammates, Christina Nativio and Elizabeth Fraas followed suit. With the bases loaded Heidelberg pitcher, Nikki Geringer drew a bases on balls to give her an RBI and bring home Gurley for the first score. Another walk brought Fraas home, putting Alee Burke on first and keeping the bases loaded. The last score of the inning came from Crista Nativio on a Noday RBI.

The Blue Streaks kept their momentum going, pulling away in the fourth inning on a dropped fly as Sobieszczanski grabbed a base hit and moved Nativio home for the score and Geringer to third.

In the top of the 6th, the Blue Streaks came out guns- a-blazing to put some distance between themselves and the Berg. With two runners on, Lindsay McKnight pulled a senior move and pushed a bunt to advance runners and get on base. With bases loaded, Jesberger launched a sacrifice fly to score Sobieszczanski. Another huge hit from Gurley on a grounder up the middle brought home both Noday and McKnight to make the score 7-1.

Jess Cook finished the night with five strikeouts to pick up her fifth win of the campaign.

"Jenn (Patterson) and Jess (Cook) threw two good games, Kristen (Jesberger) and Nikki (Geringer) called two great games," said Loudin. "Big walks from Nikki and Alee (Bruke) proved to be huge, and Miranda (Noday) drove the vall really well in that second game."

The split with Heidelberg on the day ends a nine game losing streak. John Carroll is now 11-17 on the year and 2-9 in the OAC.

The Blue Streaks look to continue their hot hitting tomorrow (4/11) at Oberlin College in a doubleheader starting at 3:30 p.m.