Box Score: Game 1 vs. Marietta / Game 2 vs. Marietta
John Carroll got mostly what it wanted Saturday on the final day of the regular season, locking down the number two seed in next week's Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament with a split against Marietta at Bracken Field.
The Blue Streaks would have loved a sweep to end the reular season on a winning note, but will gladly take a 6-1 game one victory that was followed by a 7-6 setback in the nightcap.
JCU finishes the regular season with a record of 27-9 overall and 13-5 in the OAC. The 13-5 mark is the best by a Blue Streak squad since joining the conference in 1990.
The opener was a scoreless game until the fourth inning. The bottom of the frame began when senior Jamie Smrdel (Kirtland, OH, Beaumont) was intentionally walked. Two more batters reached base, setting up bases loaded for junior Laura Boselovic (Wexford, PA, North Allegheny). She delivered, but in an unexpected way as she was hit by a pitch to bring home pinch runner Jamie Colley (Houston, TX, St. Agnes Academy)for the game's first run.
Senior Jenny Eden (Aurora, OH, Aurora) then doubled to center field bringing home two more runs.
After an error brought home two more, Smrdel singled home yet another score with her second at bat of the inning.
The six runs in the fourth was all JCU would need in crusing to a 6-1 victory. Brittany Danilov (Canfield, OH, Canfield) and Lauren Beatty (Columbus, OH, Whitehall) combined to allow one run on eight hits, striking out three.
In the nightcap, John Carroll led 4-2 and 6-5, but Marietta scored twice in the top of the seventh to prevail, 7-6. Julie Marlowe (Harmony, PA, Seneca Valley), Michelle Murphy (Erie, PA, Villa Maria Academy), Smrdel and Beatty all had two hits and one RBI in game two.
JCU will face Mount Union in the OAC Tournament first round. Ohio Northern will host and times will be determined by Monday.