After being swept by Case Western Reserve earlier this week, the Blue Streaks needed a strong showing against crosstown rival Baldwin-Wallace.
Despite a complete game pitching performance from junior all-conference performer
Brittany Danilov, the Blue Streaks came up short in game one, 3-1. A strong offensive effort in game two helped the Blue Streaks squeak out a 7-6 win and earn a split on the afternoon.
Box Scores:
Game One /
Game Two
In game one, the Yellow Jackets got moving quickly in the bottom of the first inning with an early two-run dinger off the bat of Tabitha Murray. In the top of the third, JCU cut the deficit in half.
Michelle Murphy singled to the left side, followed by a
Samantha Becker walk that moved Murphy into scoring position. McKenzie Griffin drove home Murphy on a hit up the middle.
The Yellow Jackets stung the Blue Streaks a final time in the fourth inning for an insurance run and escaped with a 3-1 victory.
Danilov tossed a six-inning complete game allowing three runs on eight hits, while striking out seven and walking just one.
In game two, Ashley Elber smacked a solo homer in the first inning to give B-W the early lead. The Blue Streaks would stay quiet offensively until the fourth inning, as they plated two runs thanks to an Olivia Matthews two-run bomb over the fence in center. The Gold and Brown would score once in the bottom of the inning to knot the game at two.
In the top of the sixth, the Blue Streaks finally put together an inning to be proud of. With two outs, JCU loaded the bases for senior
Angela Vistocco. She hit a sharp liner to right field that, despite a valiant effort, was unable to be caught. The ball went all the way to the fence and Vistocco flew around the bases and was able to score, giving John Carroll a four-run lead.
Trisha Pike followed Vistocco's late inning magic with a conventional homer to cap a five-run inning.
But the game wasn't over just yet. Baldwin-Wallace got a little rally of its own together and was able to scratch across four more runs without hitting an extra base hit. John Carroll eventually recorded the final out of the game and the Blue Streaks earned the split on the day.
Freshman Allison Klenheins finished game two 4-4 with a run scored.
