John Carroll had built a decent lead, but then in one half inning gave it away.

But in a tip of the cap to their resiliency, the Blue Streaks rallied from four runs down over the final three innings to defeat Thiel, 10-9, in the first of two games Monday in Kissimmee, Florida.

JCU fell to Penn State-Berks, 4-1, in the second game, marking the Blue Streaks' first loss of 2019.

Game One

The Blue Streaks had built leads of 3-0 and 5-2 in the early going. The big blow was a two-run home run by Lindsay McKnight in the bottom of the third.

But the bottom fell out for JCU in the top of the fifth, as the Tomcats erupted for seven runs to take a 9-5 lead. 

For the first time in three games in Florida, the Blue Streaks trailed coming up to bat.

If head coach Nicole Loudin was wondering how her team would respond, she got the answer immediately. 

Olivia Schweiger led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk, which was followed by a McKnight single. After a fly out by Elizabeth Fraas advanced the runners, Quinn Sobieszczanski singled to plate Schweiger score.

Then, with two outs, Nicole Geringer came up with the biggest hit of the day, driving home both McKnight and Sobieszczanski  to bring the Blue Streaks to within 9-8.

Jenn Patterson, who had come in for a relief appearance in the top of the fifth, kept Thiel off the board in the top of the sixth, setting the stage for the come back to be completed.

Sydney Hall led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk, and then Miranda Noday doubled. With runners on second and third and one out, McKnight ripped a double to score the tying and winning runs.

Patterson pitched a 1-2-3 seventh for her second win of the trip.

JCU had ten runs on nine hits, with Noday going 3-4 with two runs in the lead-off spot, Schweiger scoring twice in the #2 spot, and McKnight batting 3-3 with two runs and four RBI. Geringer also fared well in the sixth spot, seventh spot, going 2-3 with two RBI.

John Carroll started its season 3-0 for the first time since 2014.

Game Two

Perhaps the Blue Streaks used all their clutch hits up in the opener, as the offense dried up in John Carroll's first loss of 2019.

John Carroll managed just one run (in the 7th) on six hits, with no Blue Streak managing multiple hits. Newcomers Kristen Jesberger and Emma Gurley accounted for the lone run, as Jesberger doubled to score Gurley.

Patterson took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits in five innings.

McKnight, Noday and Sobieszczanski all have hit safely in all four games. Dating back to last season, Noday has now put together a ten-game hitting streak.

John Carroll is now 3-1 overall, while Penn State-Berks improved to 2-2.