Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Starting off a trip, better yet a season, by winning the first six games is a rare feat for a softball team. For John Carroll, it had been a quarter of a century since it had last happened.

Inspired by a heroic teammate, John Carroll has entered that rarefied air once again.

By defeating Berry University, 2-0, and later DeSales University, 9-0, the Blue Streaks have started out 6-0 for the first time since 1987. JCU kept up their winning ways with their second and third shutouts of the trip, using a combination of aggressiveness at the plate and excellent pitching.

Senior pitcher Brittany Danilov started off the first game with six strikeouts and only allowed just three singles and the defense behind Danilov assisted in a shutout.

So did the return of Ally Kleinhans.

After Erin Riccardi and Ollie Mathews reached base in the first inning, Kleinhans made her 2012 season debut. Kleinhans, who has been battling cancer for the past few months and was not able to practice with her team during the off season, stepped to the plate for an emotionally charged at bat.  The crowd of John Carroll parents along with her teammates applauded her appearance and awaited what her bat had in store for them.

As if on cue, Kleinhans belted a single that scored Riccardi to giver her team the early 1-0 lead.

In the seventh inning Danilov showed her offense by hitting a single to the left side of the field. Colleen Brady hit another single, while pinch runner Beckie Reid moved to third on an error. Reid later scored on Sam Becker's single for the all important second and final run.

Danilov closed out the game for her first complete game shutout of the season.

The DeSales game offered far less drama, as Becker and junior Mackenzie Griffin scored in the first inning, giving the Blue Streaks all the runs they would need.

But not all that they would get.

The second inning saw sophomore Lia Locey draw a walk, after which senior Michelle Murphy, Becker, Griffin, Riccardi would also be issued free passes. All would come around to score.

Coach Erin Brooks, with a confident lead, put in some fresh faces on the field in order to give a chance to show their skills. In the last inning of the game, those fresh faces delivered. Sophomore Kasey Foley hit a single, after which Heather Hurley complimented her single with a hard hit double just shy of the homerun fence. The sophomore duo both crossed the plate in the inning to supply the final runs.

Trisha Pike pitched five innings of the game, posting five strikeouts (three looking) while allowing three hits. Rookie Rachel Byrnes entered the game as a relief pitcher and threw three innings without allowing any hits.

John Carroll has an opportunity to match the best start in program history, which, amazingly was in the program's first year of existence. JCU Softball started out by winning the first seven games it ever played back in 1984.

The challenge of matching that 7-0 start will commence Friday, as two games loom against Moravian College and The College of New Jersey -- both of whom beat the Blue Streaks last year.

"The 6-0 start is a good start, but just as important, we are building from game to game," said Brooks."I am excited to play Moravian and (College of) New Jersey considering they are tough competition."