One of the hardest transitions in softball is going from a gym to an outdoor field. Whether it is picking up the ball out of a pitcher's hand, or fielding a ground ball off of dirt and not a hardwood floor. It is never easy to step outside for the first time.

That is why JCU head softball coach Nicole Loudin took the Blue Streaks to eastern Tennessee to start the 2018 season. Following three games on Sunday, the Blue Streaks now have some experience outdoors before traveling to Florida in two weeks, where they will play almost a quarter of the schedule in one week.

Due to weather conditions this past weekend in Maryville, Tenn., the Blue Streaks were forced to play a single-day triple-header instead of two, two game series over the course of the weekend. This is the first time that John Carroll has played in a tripleheader since March of 2011.

After a slow start offensively in the opening game, the Blue Streak bats came to life in game three.  

Game 1: Maryville 3, John Carroll 0

The Blue Streaks had difficulty early offensively in game one, but the defense and stellar pitching of junior Jessica Cook picked up where they left off in 2017. However, a pair of two out base hits would down the Blue Streaks in game one of the day.

Neither team could get much started offensively early on, as the first two innings were scoreless. Maryville had runners in scoring position in both innings, but Cook was able to work out of them with no damage.

In the third, after Cook struck out the first batter of the inning, Maryville was able to get a base hit and then advance the runner to third on an overthrow. Cook was able to lock back in after the error, and force her second strikeout of the inning. However, Maryville came through on a big two out single to take the early 1-0 lead.

In the fourth, the Scots threatened again. Only this time, loading up the bases with two outs. Cook was able to rely on the sure glove of junior Lindsay McKnight to get the put out to eliminate the Maryville threat.

After four innings of hitless softball for the Blue Streaks, sophomore Caitlin Fitzsimmons drilled a bomb to right center field for a double in the fifth to give the JCU offense life with two outs. However, the Blue Streaks were unable to hit her in to close out the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, Maryville loaded the bases up with two outs again, but this time they took advantage, with a two out two RBI single to take the 3-0 lead. Cook was able to get out of the inning forcing a popup to sophomore Lauren Ogurek.

The Blue Streaks tried to spark a rally in the 7th when McKnight hit a line drive to right-centerfield with one out. However, they were unable to complete the comeback and fell in game one.

Game 2: DePauw 6, John Carroll 1

A big inning for DePauw would do the Blue Streaks in, as the Tigers brought in five runs in the fourth inning, and holding the Blue Streaks to one run for the game.

In the first inning, the Blue Streaks were able to get a runner on base as junior Olivia Schweiger lined one into right field. However, the top half of the inning was ended shortly thereafter, as Schweiger was caught stealing, followed by a strikeout to make the final outs.

DePauw was able to strike first when the Tigers led off with a single to left field. A fielder's choice put DePauw in scoring position, which lead to the first run of the game scored on a single to center field.

In the second inning, the Blue Streaks relied on a little small ball to move runners and plate their only run of the game. Senior Hannah Mizner lead off the inning with a single to right center. Sophomore Lauren Ogurek followed up with a bunt and was safe at first base. Junior Nikki Geringer laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third with only one out. Senior Jennie Broski came through with a sac fly to right field to score Mizner and move Ogurek to third. The Blue streaks were unable to capitalize with the runner in scoring position and moved to the bottom of the second tied at one.

After a scoreless third, Depauw heated up in the fourth to break the game open. DePauw managed to push across five runs, including one off of a suicide squeeze, to give the Tigers a 6-1 advantage.

The Blue Streaks and Tigers exchanged outs in the fifth and sixth with the score 6-1 headed into the final inning.

The Blue Streaks offense showed signs of life again in the top of the seventh. With one out, JCU had runners on second and third by way of a Nikki Geringer walk and a Broski double.

The momentum was stopped and the game was ended when Fitzsimmons crushed a ball to center field which was caught by the Tigers and the Blue Streaks were doubled up at second base.

Game 3: Maryville 8, John Carroll 7
 

In the final game of the afternoon, the Blue Streaks offense found their grove. Unfortunately, a walk off single in the bottom of the 7th would leave the Blue Streaks empty handed after a valiant effort.

After a scoreless first inning, the Blue Streak bats came to life. Gerringer and Broski got things started with back-to-back singles with one out. This set the stage for sophomore Elizabeth Fraas to clear the bases with her second career homerun to make the score 3-0.

Maryville was quick to respond, and was able to score three runs with two outs on back-to-back singles to tie the game at three runs for each team.

The Scots would then extend their lead in the bottom of the third inning, to gain the lead 4-3, but the Blue Streaks were quick to respond.

In the visitor half of the fourth, Mizener and Gannon would piece together two singles to put runners on first and second. Broski would then advance both runners to put them both in scoring position with two outs. Mizener would then use her veteran eye and escape home on a passed ball to tie the game at four.

Fraas would continue her hot streak and drill a line drive into left field to score Gannon, making it 5-4 in favor JCU heading to the bottom of the fourth.

Maryville would respond like they had all afternoon, adding on two more runs in the home half of the fourth to regain the lead, 6-5.

In the top of the fifth, it was the Blue Streaks' turn to answer. McKnight started things off with a rocket double to the fence with one out. Mizener would then get on due to a Scots error. Ogurek would make sure Maryville paid for that error, with a one out RBI shot to the fence. The scoring wasn't over for the Blue Streaks as coach Loudin dialed up the suicide squeeze to score Mizener and, in turn, give JCU the 7-6 lead.

After both teams were unable to score in their next at bats, Maryville was able to get another huge two out base hit to tie things up at seven, headed to the final inning.

The Blue Streaks would get Ogurek on base in the seventh with one out, but she was later called out for leaving to early on a steal attempt for the second out of the inning. Gannon would ground out to short to end the seventh.

In the bottom half of the seventh, Maryville would strike with two outs again on a walk-off RBI single to secure the win for Maryville.

Up next, the Blue Streaks will have two weeks to prepare for their annual Spring Break trip, this time returning to Kissimee, Fla. for the 2018 Sunkissed Games. First game action is set for Monday, March 5 against Simmons College. First pitch is slated for 3:45 p.m.