Box Scores:  Game 1 vs. Heidelberg  /  Game 2 vs. Heidelberg

The scores were similar, but the victories were achieved in much different ways as John Carroll swept a pair of games against Heidelberg Tuesday afternoon at Bracken Field in Ohio Athletic Conference play.

John Carroll used two key Kelly D'Amato RBI hits to pull away from the 'Berg in game one for a 5-1 triumph, then rode the strength of three home runs in game two to roll to a 6-1 victory in the nightcap.

Heidelberg jumped on the scoreboard first with two hits and a run in the first inning of game one. But that would be all the runs allowed by starter Sam Thompson, as she allowed just one run and four hits over the seven innings she worked for the complete game victory that raised her record to 7-8.

In the meantime, D'Amato would come through in a big way. Beginning the day with a .154 batting average, D'Amato would reach base all three times she came to the plate. In her first at bat in the bottom of the second inning, she doubled home what would be the winning run to score Laura Boselovic from third.

In the fourth inning, she singled with the bases loaded to plate Boselovic and Staci Ziobert to put JCU ahead 4-1.

The final Blue Streak run was scored when Thompson drew a bases loaded walk in the sixth.

JCU outhit Heidelberg, 5-4, and stranded nine runners compared to four for the 'Berg.

As for the second game, it would be the long ball that powered the win. In the bottom of the first inning, Jamie Smrdel had a two-out single, after which Thompson pounded a line drive deep to left field that glanced off the top of the outfield fence for a two-run home run.

Ahead 2-0, the Blue Streaks added a third run when Boselovic scored from third on a delayed steal after Heidelberg caught D'Amato trying to steal second.

Heidelberg cut into the John Carroll lead when Ashley Foust blasted a lead-off home run in the top of the fourth inning, but the Blue Streaks would erase all doubt in the fifth. Following a two-out pinch hit single by Jenny Eden, Smrdel launched a two-out home run over the right field fence. the home run was her fourth of the year and the 21st of her career -- breaking the school record of 20 set by Carrie McVicker from 1995-1998.

For good measure, Denya Fanelli blasted her first collegiate home run in the bottom of the sixth inning in a pinch hit situation for the game's final run.

John Carroll has now won 10 of its last 13 games to improve to 12-14 on the year overall, and has a 6-4 record in the OAC -- putting the Blue Streaks solidly alone in fifth place in the league standings. Heidelberg falls to 4-22 overall and 2-10 in the OAc with the losses.