SAINTS NIPPED BY JOHN CARROLL, 8-7

LEESBURG, Fla. – John Carroll University downed the Emmanuel College softball team 8-7 Monday afternoon at Sleepy Hollow Field in Day Two action of the NTC Spring Games. The Blue Streaks improve to 3-1 on the year while the loss dips the Saints to 1-2.

EC jumped out to an early 1-0 lead manufacturing a run in the top of the first inning. Rookie shortstop Kerry Sendrick (Medway, Mass.) opened the action drawing a walk and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by freshman second baseman Sydney Rogers (Southwick, Mass.). A single by sophomore catcher Casey Sheehan (Medway, Mass.) moved Sendrick to third and sophomore designated player Ashley Skey (Brookline, N.H.) drove her home with a single to left to give Emmanuel the 1-0 cushion.

John Carroll answered in the bottom of the second to tie the score at 1-1 plating an unearned run. Freshman outfielder Lauren Ogurk (Troy, Mich.) reached via an error and came around to score on an RBI double to left center by junior centerfielder Hannah Mizener (Mason, Ohio).

The Saints got the run right back in the top of the third as Sheehan opened the inning with a walk and came around to score on an RBI groundout by senior third baseman Kara Madden (Silver Spring, Md.) to give Emmanuel a brief 2-1 lead.

The Blue Streaks responded with four runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead for good in the action. Freshman first baseman Elizabeth Fraas (Dublin, Ohio) belted a two-run homer to open the scoring before JC scored two more unanswered runs to account for a 5-2 score heading into the fourth. The hosts continued to cruise scoring three more runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a comfortable 8-2 advantage.

Emmanuel got one back in the top of the fifth to cut the score to 8-3 scoring an unearned run of its own before making some noise in the sixth to make things interesting. The Saints rallied for four runs on four hits to make it a one-run game at 8-7. Skey and Madden each recorded RBI singles in the frame but freshman relief pitcher Jennifer Patterson (Marysville, Ohio) worked her way out of a bases loaded jam to retire the side and keep the score at 8-7.

John Carroll threatened to add to its lead in the bottom of the sixth by loading the bases but EC sophomore pitcher Olivia Burgos (Newington, Conn.) got out of the jam by stranding the bases loaded.

EC was unable to complete the rally going in order in the seventh on just four pitches as Patterson preserved the lead for the Blue Streaks. Sophomore Jessica Cook (Pittsburgh, Pa.) earned the win to move to 1-0 on the year hurling the first four innings for JC allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out five. Burgos suffered the loss and falls to 1-1, allowing five runs (two earned) on 13 hits.

Skey finished the game going 3-for-4 with two RBI for the Saints while Mizener paced the Streaks with a 4-for-5 outing with three RBI.