For the first time since 2010, the Blue Streaks would be on the wrong side of a sweep against their rivals from Alliance as Mount Union took two from JCU at Bracken Field.

History did not play into the Blue and Gold's favor, as it would be the first time since 2008 John Carroll walked away from Bracken Field without at least one win against the Purple Raiders.

Game One
The John Carroll University softball team failed to put an end to their conference losing streak, losing 13-6 in the first game of the twin bill against the Mount Union Purple Raiders.

In the first inning, the Blue Streaks attempted to put their offensive woes during this part of this season behind them with a five run performance, featuring three RBI doubles.

Junior Miranda Noday began the scoring affair with her RBI double, and the duo of freshman Kristen Jesberger and Emma Gurley followed suit with RBI doubles themselves. JCU held a commanding 5-1 lead after the opening inning.

Unfortunately for the Blue and Gold, they spent themselves offensively as they only mustered three additional hits following the first inning.

Meanwhile, the Purple Raiders chipped away before they broke through.

Mount Union registered 15 hits from the second inning on, scoring a dozen runs in the process. That majority of those hits and runs were late in the game as the Purple Raiders did not take a hold of their first lead of the game in the sixth inning. It was 5-3 when the inning began in favor of John Carroll, and 8-5 when it ended.

Elizabeth Fraas attempted to put a some life back into the John Carroll effort with a solo home run into deep center field, but the Purple Raiders answered with a five hit, five run top of the seventh inning to ice the game.

Junior Jenn Patterson started on the circle for the Blue Streaks, throwing 6.0 innings, allowing 11 hits and six earned runs. She struck out two runners. Patterson also made three appearances at the plate, collecting one hit and an RBI. It was the first time in seven league starts that she had received more than three runs of support, but of all days, she could not keep the score down herself.
       
Senior Quinn Sobieszczanski had the best average of the day, going 2-4, tabbing a double and a run scored. 

Game Two
An extra inning affair was what it took for the Blue Streaks and Purple Raiders to determine a winner and it was determined in unusual fashion.

Mount Union led the eighth inning off with a double but JCU answered with two outs. The bad luck of the 2019 season continued as the Purple Raiders scored off a wild pitch to take the 3-2 lead and ultimately tally the win in the ball game.

The Purple Raiders were the team to beat from the get-go as they picked up in game two right where they left off in game one, generating a 1-0 lead in the first inning with just one out on the scoreboard.

The Blue Streaks did not have a hit in their credit to start as Mount Union's Ashley Cascio recorded eight consecutive outs in the game. That was until sophomore Hannah Vicini caught the best of Cascio, with her first career home run  — that would be the boost the Blue and Gold needed, as JCU tied the game at one run a piece.

Mount Union quickly countered Vicini's home run, as Montana Mart hit a two-out single to right center field for the Purple Raiders to take the 2-1 advantage.

JCU finally started to move the bats, commanding six hits over the next three innings but it was not until the bottom of the sixth inning that the Blue Streaks would take the lead.

Junior Alee Burke displayed her small ball abilities with a bunt single that eluded three different Mount fielders, scoring Jesberger and advancing Fraas into scoring position at third base. Despite the Blue and Gold bats catching fire, those same bats turned cold as JCU had back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.

During the course of that inning, Cascio's day would conclude with a 5.0 inning performance. She allowed six hits and two runs and only striking out one lone batter.

Relief pitcher Alexandra Pasco of Mount Union would ultimately be the X-factor to shutting down the Blue and Gold offense, as she struck out six consecutive batters at a key juncture of the game.

In the end, the Blue Streaks did not have enough fire power left as they went down 1-2-3 to end the eighth inning and the ball game.

Jess Cook went the length for JCU, pitching 8.0 innings, allowing three runs and nine hits. She struck out five batters and only walked one.

At the conclusion of today's games, the Blue Streaks fall to 10-24 on the season and 2-12 in conference play.

John Carroll will look to build sone late season momentum beginning Thursday, April 18 for a double header against Hiram.