Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Blue Streaks were able to use offensive firepower in the early innings to earn a split in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader against Muskingum in New Concord, Ohio.

In both games, the Blue Streaks were able to jump out to early advantages, but they were able to learn from a game one extra inning loss to secure the victory in game two.

Game 1 – Muskingum 5, John Carroll 4 (8 innings)
The first five innings of Game 1 were all Blue and Gold. John Carroll got on the board first with two outs when senior Hannah Mizener knocked in the junior Miranda Noday who led off the game with single to gain the early 1-0 advantage.

In the second frame, the Blue Streaks offense kept things rolling when junior Nikki Geringer singled to center field to start things off. After a Fitzsimmons walk, junior Quinn Sobieszczanski crushed a home run to left field, pushing the Blue and Gold lead to 4-0.

John Carroll's defense through the first five innings was absolutely dominant, spearheaded by junior starting pitcher Jessica Cook. She conceded only one hit through the first five innings of work.

The tides began to turn in the sixth, however. Muskingum was able to score two runs off of two hits to cut the JCU lead in half.

After John Carroll went in order in the top of the seventh, Muskingum was able to piece together back-to- back hits to start the seventh. After a groundout that scored a run, Abigail Orr doubled to tie the game at four. The Blue Streaks were able to step up once again with a runner in scoring position and only one out to force the game into extra innings.

In the eighth, Muskingum was able to secure the win when Jaelyn Meade singled which scored Rachel Eberling to secure game one for the Muskies.

Cook finished the game with 6.1 innings pitched while only allowing three earned runs. Mizener finished game one from the plate 2-4 with an RBI.

Game 2 – John Carroll 5, Muskingum 3
The Blue Streaks did not let the final three innings of game one bring them down as John Carroll jumped on the Muskies early in the first. Junior Lindsay McKnight started things off with a two out triple to start the rally. Mizener capped things off with her 16th home run of her career, a two run shot to give the Blue Streaks the 2-0 lead.

In the second, seniors Maggie Gannon and Jennie Broski started things off with back-to-back hits. Fitzsimmons followed in suit knocking a single into center field, which scored Gannon to extend the John Carroll lead to three.

In the bottom half of the second the Muskies scored a run of their own but the Blue Streaks were quick to respond in the third, and yes once again with two outs.

Sophomore Lauren Ogurek started the two out rally with a single up the middle. Gannon followed with a double to left center field, which scored the speedy Ogurek to answer the Muskingum run and make the score 4-1 Blue Streaks.

After sophomore Jenn Patterson was able to work out of the third, JCU was able to add another run in the fourth when a McKnight single scored Noday to once extend the Blue Streak advantage to 5-1.

Both teams were unable to plate a run in the fifth or sixth, but Muskingum came to life again in the seventh. After a single and an error, Haylea Debolt doubled to center field to score two runs for the Muskies. With two outs, freshman Madison Eagle came in for Patterson with a runner on base and was able to get the final out to earn her second career save and secure the 5-3 victory for John Carroll.

Patterson finished the game pitching 6.2 innings, while only giving up one run.

McKnight, Gannon, and Broski all finished game two with multiple hits for John Carroll.

With the split Muskingum moves to 18-6 overall and 4-4 in the OAC. The Blue Streaks have now won five out of their last six games in the conference to advance to 10-9 overall and 5-3 in the OAC, good enough for third place as the league schedule nears its halfway point.

Next up for John Carroll, they will take on first place Heidelberg on Wednesday in a doubleheader starting at 3:00 PM.