Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

John Carroll came within one out of a doubleheader sweep on the road against a Mount Union team with whom it shares the top spot in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

A smooth, successful 9-0 victory in game one was followed by a wild 10-inning affair that ended with a 6-5 Purple Raider win in walk-off fashion.

Starting pitcher Rachel Byrnes and the Blue Streaks started the afternoon as they left off on Saturday, firing on all cylinders in the shut out.  Lia Locey got the scoring started in the second inning when one of her three hits scored Morgan Robinson, who went 3-4 in the contest.  After Erica Chiudioni tripled with the bases loaded, JCU had put four runs across the plate in the frame to account for plenty of offense.

With the cushion, Byrnes was lights out, striking out 10 and allowing just four hits while going the distance.  The reigning OAC Softball Pitcher of the Week also started game two, surrendering three runs in 6.0 innings while striking out six.

Game two featured multiple comebacks by Mount Union, which did not lead until a walk-off single in the 10th ended the game in the Raiders' favor.  The Blue Streaks led by a run in the bottom of both the seventh and 10th innings, but could not close the door in either instance.

JCU steadily built a 4-2 advantage after Chiudioni singled in Locey in the fourth, but Mount slowly chipped away.  In the top of the 10th inning, Robinson scored on a base hit from Sam Becker to take a 5-4 lead, before late heroics from the hosts sent the Blue & Gold home with a split.

Mackenzie Griffin went 4-9 at the plate on the day, while Ally Kleinhans, Michaela Mackey, and Becker each chipped in two hits in game two.

After today's action, John Carroll stands at 14-6 overall, 6-2 in the OAC.  Mount Union is now 16-5, 6-2 in conference play.