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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Jesberger smiling
NTare Williamson
The Blue Streaks put together a complete, team effort on Tuesday. 
7
Winner Muskingum MUSKY 16-5, 3-1 OAC
5
John Carroll JCUSB 7-6-1, 0-1 OAC
Winner
Muskingum MUSKY
16-5, 3-1 OAC
7
Final
5
John Carroll JCUSB
7-6-1, 0-1 OAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Muskingum MUSKY 1 1 0 0 0 4 1 7 13 3
John Carroll JCUSB 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 5 6 0

W: Hannah Smith (8-3) L: DeBord, Katie (2-3)

3
Muskingum MUSKY 16-6, 2-2 OAC
4
Winner John Carroll JCUSB 8-6-1, 1-1 OAC
Muskingum MUSKY
16-6, 2-2 OAC
3
Final
4
John Carroll JCUSB
8-6-1, 1-1 OAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Muskingum MUSKY 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 6 1
John Carroll JCUSB 1 0 0 0 3 0 X 4 9 0

W: Callow, Brianna (3-2) L: Alyssa Marla (1-2)

Game Recap: Softball | | Bobby Gerome & Ryan Szczepinski, Staff Writers

Blue Streaks Split with Fighting Muskies, with a Clutch Win in Game 2

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- On a cool Tuesday afternoon, John Carroll hosted the Muskingum Fightin' Muskies in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader. Despite missing several starters, the Blue Streaks picked up a huge win. 

John Carroll split with the Muskies in their first OAC matchup of the season. JCU lost to Muskingum 7-5 in the first game of a doubleheader before bouncing back in a major way in Game 2.

In the backend of the twinbill, the Blue Streaks defeated the Fighting Muskies, 4-3, in a dramatic win that kicks off OAC play in a big way for the Blue & Gold. 

Despite having several key players out and all kinds of schedule disruptions, the Blue Streaks beat one of the conference's top teams in a complete effort with contributions by everyone. 

Game 1
The bats were being put to use early, with both teams trading runs in the first inning. 

Katie DeBord, the starting pitcher for the Blue Streaks, started the second inning hot. The first out of the inning came from a backwards K, and the second at bat only lasted one pitch. 

But that hot start came to an end when Claire Warshauer, a Muskingum infielder, lined a home run over the left field wall. Going into the bottom of the second, the score was 2-1 Muskingum. 

The Blue Streaks quickly responded to the run put up by Muskingum. Freshman Lexie Genovese started off the half inning with a double to left center field. With two on and one out, Muskingum made a change on the mound, as senior Hannah Smith checked into the game. 

Gracie Bressoud stepped up to the plate with two outs, and singled into shallow center field. That tied the game at two runs a piece going into the third inning. 

After an amazing throw by catcher Kristen Jesberger to catch a runner stealing, the score remained tied at two after three. The fourth and fifth innings were a pitchers duel, with no runs being scored.

Muskingum was able to get the bats going again in the top of the sixth. Hits by Taylor Gallentine, Cristianna Boggs and Katie Osborn scored four runs for the Muskies. 

Muskingum added another in the seventh, as a shallow single into right field by Kalie Eshelman brought Mickayla Malone home, and Muskingum was up 7-2 going into the final half inning. 

Gracie Bressoud led off the frame for the Blue Streaks, and hit a bomb over the left field fence, shortening the John Carroll deficit by one run. After two walks and a hit, the bases were loaded, and Serena Paterno stepped in the box as the tying run with nobody out. Paterno grounded into an infield error, and the Blue Streaks were able to earn one run off of Muskingum's mistakes. 

When Lexie Genovese grounded a ball to the pitcher, another infield error took place, this time at home plate. John Carroll narrowed the score to 7-5 with nobody out in the inning. 

After a 1-2-3 double play, the Blue Streaks were down to their last out, and two runners in scoring position. The tying run was on second, and Kendall Trunzo was the winning run was at the plate. Trunzo walked, and the bases were loaded. Unfortunately, the Blue Streaks were unable to bring that winning run home, and Muskingum took game one by a score of 7-5. 

Game 2
The Blue Streaks' offense started the bottom of the first quickly, with a bunt single by second baseman Alyssia Carmichael followed by a walk from first baseman Gabby Hougan. The Blue Streaks were able to capitalize after an RBI single from Serena Paterno, which gave the Streaks a 1-0 lead. 

Freshman Brianna Callow was the starting pitcher for the Blue Streaks and had a dominant start to the game. Callow retired the first 8 batters she faced before finally allowing a hit in the top of the third. 

Gracie Bressoud hit a double to deep right field in the bottom of the third, but was stranded at second as the Blue Streaks were unable to capitalize. 

In the top of the fourth, Callow continued her dominant pitching with another 1-2-3 inning to keep the Muskies off of the scoreboard.

Catcher Kristen Jesberger started the bottom of the fourth with a single up the middle. After a hard lineout to right field from Hougan, third baseman Jess Lichota added another single to give the Blue Streaks a runner on first and second. But the Blue Streaks left both runners stranded unfortunately. 

The Muskies tried to get something started in the fifth after starting the inning with a hit and moving the runner to second with a bunt. The Muskies almost got on the scoreboard after a deep fly ball to right field. But JCU right fielder Crista Nativio made a great running catch that prevented the Muskies from scoring. 

In the bottom of the fifth, Bressoud singled to left to get things started for the Streaks. Carmichael followed this with an infield single to give the Blue Streaks another opportunity to extend their lead. Jesberger answered the call and hit a hard grounder up the middle, which got past the Muskies center fielder, allowing 2 runs to score. Paterno then hit another RBI single to extend the Blue Streaks' lead to 4-0.

The top of the sixth saw the Muskies offense finally break through. The visitors quickly loaded the bases with no outs before an RBI single got Muskingum on the board. An RBI bloop single from first baseman Haley Hawk plated another run. The Muskies scored their third run of the inning on an RBI sacrifice fly. Callow was able to work out of the jam and limit the Muskies scoring to three and keep the Blue Streaks out front by a run. 

In the bottom half of the sixth, the Blue Streaks tried to answer the Muskies' big inning but were unable to get anything going after shortstop Lexie Genovese walked to start the inning.

In the top of the seventh, Callow headed out to finish the game. After a quick first out, Callow gave up a single and a walk to put the tying run in scoring position. But Callow persevered and issued a strikeout to end the game and pick up the 4-3 victory in game two.

John Carroll split the doubleheader with Muskingum and move to 8-6-1 on the year. 

The Blue Streaks will be back in action on Saturday, heading to Ohio Northern. 
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