The John Carroll University softball team has had plenty of ups and downs during their 2019 campaign and this afternoon's twin bill against the Marietta Pioneers reflected just that.

John Carroll fell to Marietta 7-3 in game one but bounced back to win 2-1 in game two. The 2-1 win represented John Carroll's first conference win this season in games decided by three or fewer runs. The Blue Streaks were 0-9 in those games until today.

Game One
Marietta wasted no time to make their mark on the scoreboard, tallying three runs in the opening inning to acquire the early advantage. Senior Jess Cook earned the start and she had quite a busy first inning facing six batters.

Cook redeemed herself with a stellar second and third innings, only allowing one hit. She did surrender two hits in the fourth inning and one hit in the fifth inning, but no damage was done on the scoreboard as the score remained 3-0 in favor of the Pioneers.

The Blue Streaks failed to provide Cook with any run support, recording just three hits in six innings and no runs added to the scoreboard. Marietta starting pitcher Hannah Richardson takes the credit for allowing no JCU runs, as she only allowed three hits and struck out four batters in her four innings pitched.

The Pioneers took advantage of a stalled Blue Streaks offense, putting together a four run inning in the bottom of the sixth inning. Three of those runs were allowed by Cook. She finished the day with 5.2 innings pitched and fell to 5-11 overall on the season, recording the loss.

Senior Liz O'Grady relieved Cook in the sixth inning, but she did allow the seventh run. O'Grady did however get out of the inning with no additional damage done, as the Pioneers left two runners on base.

JCU made a late-game run, scoring three runs in the final inning off five hits. The dynamic freshman duo of Emma Gurley and Elizabeth Fraas both had RBI singles. Senior Quinn Sobieszczanski added the final RBI single.

Richardson earned her first win of the season. Her relief pitcher Maddi Liston pitched the final three innings and allowed the three runs in the final inning.

Senior Lindsay McKnight and Gurley each added a pair of hits.

Game Two
The Blue Streaks started to settle in at Marietta Field in the second game of this afternoon's double header. JCU shelled off two hits in the first inning and one hit in the second inning, but did not add any runs to the scoreboard.

Junior Jenn Patterson earned the start for the Blue and Gold and she started the day strong in the circle. Patterson only allowed a pair of hits in the first two innings, and held the Pioneers scoreless.

Despite two quick outs in the top of the third inning, that did not stop the Blue Streaks bats from sparking a late inning output on the offensive end. McKnight hit a double to center field and freshman clean up hitter Kristen Jesberger cleaned up the bases with a two run blast over the center field wall.

JCU held the 2-0 advantage following the top of the third inning and also ended Marietta starting pitcher Jaclyn Mulvain's day.

Patterson continued her flaming hot day in the circle, scorching through the third and fourth innings with no hits allowed.

Unfortunately, the Pioneers tamed the flames of Patterson, cooling off her blazing hot start putting together a three-hit, one-run inning. The Blue Streaks still held the 2-1 lead, even though Marietta lessened the damage.

Although she hit a brief road bump, Patterson was lights out to end the game as she only let one Pioneer reach the base paths in the sixth and seventh innings. She earned the win following her complete game performance, allowing no earned runs and striking out four batters.

Her record on the 2019 season is finalized at 9-10.

The Blue Streaks conclude the 2019 season with a 14-24 record overall and a 4-14 mark in the Ohio Athletic Conference.