It may be 75 degrees without a cloud in the sky in Clermont, Florida, but no elements can remedy four games in less than 24 hours.

On day two of their week-long spring trip, the John Carroll softball team shook off an early morning 3-1 loss to Alvernia University with a 10-2 thumping of the Simmons College Sharks this afternoon.

After a very short night's sleep, the Streaks took to the diamond again this morning at 9 AM. Alvernia and John Carroll both entered with two wins on day one of the tournament.

Alvernia left with its third by virtue a 3-1 win over the previously undefeated Blue Streaks

Box Score (coming soon)

In the first inning, junior pitcher Brittany Danilov (Canfield, OH, Canfield) got into a little bit of trouble. After a double and a walk to start the game, Danilov sent the next two down swinging. She couldn't complete the turkey however, allowing a double and a single to the next two hitters. A strikeout ended the inning, but not before the Crusaders pushed across three runs. It would be their only runs of the contest.

It should also be noted that Danilov's first strikeout of the inning was the 300th punch out of her career. She was dominant the rest of the game, allowing only two more hits to compliment seven total strikeouts.

John Carroll had a chance to get on the board in the fifth, but they left the bases loaded after freshman Heather Hurley (London, OH, London) was picked off at second to end the inning.

The Streaks were held scoreless until the seventh inning, when freshman DH Ally Kleinhans (Washington, PA, McGuffey ) blasted one over the left-center field fence for her first collegiate homerun. Unfortunately, the next three batters were retired in order and John Carroll dropped its first game of the year.

The Blue Streaks managed just four hits in the contest.

John Carroll's bats would come alive in the second contest of the day.

Box Score (coming soon)

Game two started much like the first game - down 2-0 in a hurry. This time it was a two-run homer that gave the Sharks the early advantage.

Simmons threatened again in the top of the third inning. With runners on first and second and only one out, third baseman Erin Riccardi (North Canton, Hoover) came to the rescue. Riccardi caught a scorching line drive and quickly fired the ball to second to complete the double play and end the inning.

The Blue Streaks used that momentum to get into the scoring column in the bottom of the third inning. Junior Michelle Murphy (Erie, PA, Villa Maria Academy) reached on an error to start the inning and sophomore Mackenzie Griffin (Lake Oswego, OR, Lakeridge) singled to put runners on first and second with nobody out. After a Riccardi fly out, junior Olivia Mathews (Suffield, OH, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary)singled to load the bases.

Senior Angela Vistocco (Victor, NY, Victor) then ripped a ball that ricocheted off the second baseman's glove and into right field, scoring all three Blue Streaks. Vistocco, who advanced to second on the throw to the plate, scored on freshman Samantha Becker's (Roselle, IL, Lake Park) single to center to cap a four-run inning.

JCU wasted no time once again in the fourth inning. With two on and one out, Griffin doubled home two more runners. Back to back hits from Matthews and Vistocco plated two more for John Carroll, and the Blue Streaks led 8-2 after four innings.

The blue and gold tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. In her collegiate debut, freshman Nicole Fluharty (Willard, OH, Willard ) and junior Elena Cotton (Fairview Park, Magnificat) took free passes. In her first career at bat, freshman Angelia Locey (Rochester, NY, Bishop Kearney H.S.)knocked home Fluharty, followed by a Matthews single that drove in Cotton for the game-winning run. The Blue Streaks completed the run-rule victory over the Sharks by a final of 10-2.

Junior pitcher Brittany Danilov (Canfield, OH, Canfield) has started the season on the highest of notes. The First Team All-OAC selection from a year ago threw six more innings this afternoon. She gave up two runs on five hits, eight strikeouts and no walks.

"We really put all the pieces together today on offense," said assistant coach Kim Tackett afterwards. "This was our best offensive game of the young season and I think we are capable of doing this game in and game out."

Angela Vistocco finished the contest 1-3 at the plate with four RBI's and a run scored. Matthews added three hits in four trips to the plate, knocking in one run on the game. Griffin wrapped up the day 2-3 with two runs batted in.