John Carroll scored four runs in both games Thursday afternoon in Kissimmee. One put them on a good side of a 4-0 win over Penn State-Hazelton, the other left them on the short side of a 7-4 loss to Misericordia.
Today's split leaves the Blue Streaks with a 4-4 record heading into the final day of play in Florida before heading back north. JCU will close with Houghton (1-5) and Wartburg (7-1).
Game One
Jenn Patterson pitched a gem in the opening game, striking out a career-best seven and allowing just three hits in shutting out the Lions, 4-0.
Elizabeth Fraas jump started the offense with a double to left center, scoring
Miranda Noday for the first run in the first inning.
Noday was involved in the second inning as well, as he RBI single scored
Olivia Schweiger for a 2-0 John Carroll lead.
The Blue Streaks put insurance runs up for Patterson in the fourth.
Crista Nativio singled through the left side to score Noday, and
Lindsay McKnight singled home Nativio.
The four runs were plenty, as Patteson improved to 3-1 on the year and did not allow an extra base hit.
Game Two
Misericordia built a 7-0 lead through four innings, and then held on for a 7-4 victory.Â
JCU struggled in situations were they could have crept closer. The Blue Streaks were 1-7 in RBI situations for the game and stranded six base runners over the final four innings.
Noday got the Blue Streaks on the board with a two-run home run in the fifth.Â
In the sixth, it was
Kristen Jesberger with a sacrifice fly to plate the third John Carroll run.
The Blue Streaks went down swinging in the seventh, tagging one more run before the end.
Emma Gurley, who was 4-4 in the game, hit a two-out single to score Nativio.
The Blue Streaks had four runs on five hits and drew six walks.
"We played really well, but we had some breaks go against us," said head coach
Nicole Loudin. "This (Misericordia) was a good team and we fought to the final out. Overall, it was good to win that first one. It was much needed. Nikki (Geringer) and Kristen (Jesberger) called great games today."