For the first time in program history, a senior class of John Carroll softball players will complete their careers never knowing the disappointment of missing out on a postseason opportunity.

With a sweep of Heidelberg this afternoon in Tiffin, the Blue Streaks secured a berth in the Ohio Athletic Conference four-team postseason tournament for the fourth consecutive year. Prior to the arrival of Jamie Colley, Katie Knox and Angela Vistocco, JCU had made just one appearance in the league playoffs (2003).

John Carroll captured game one by a 6-1 score, then outlasted the host 'berg by a 1-0 count in game two.

Box Scores: Game One  /  Game Two

JCU made its break away early on in the opener, scoring twice in the first inning and three more times in the second. It was three Heidelberg errors that contributed largely to the two runs in the first, but the JCU bats went to work in the second. Erin Riccardi, Olivia Mathews and Vistocco all drove in runs to give the Streaks a 5-0 lead.

That would be plenty of support for starting pitcher Brittany Danilov, who limited the 'Berg to one run (scored in the bottom of the seventh) on six hits – none for extra bases. Danilov struck out nine and walked none in seven innings.

Danilov also started and finished game two – a five hit gem of a shutout in which she struck out 11, one shy of her career high.

JCU picked up the game's only run in the top of the fourth inning. After Riccardi led off the inning with a double, Vistocco would bring her home with a one-out single.

From there, Danilov allowed just one base runner to reach second over the final four innings in improving to 15-7 on the year.

John Carroll is now 24-10 overall and 12-4 in the OAC. The Blue Streaks are in second place – one game behind Ohio Northern – with a regular season closing doubleheader to play at tenth-place Wilmington Saturday. Heidelberg slips to 22-14 overall and 4-12 in league play.