UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio—The Mount Union softball team split a doubleheader with John Carroll, losing the first game 6-3 before winning the nightcap 8-3, in Ohio Athletic Conference play Thursday afternoon. Junior Marissa Earl (Massillon/Washington) hit a pair of home runs and had six RBI to lead the way for the Purple Raiders.

A solo home run by Morgan Robinson in the 3rd inning put the Blue Streaks ahead 1-0 in the first game. After a Raider error extended the 4th inning, Colleen Brady hit a bases-clearing double that scored three runs. The Blue Streaks added two more runs in the 5th inning for a 6-0 lead.

The Raiders would rally in the sixth inning as Earl got things started with a two-run homer. Freshman Leigh Siedlak (Westerville/Westerville South) scored on a wild pitch later in the inning to make it 6-3. A single by sophomore Brittany Papp (Uniontown/Green) put runners on the corners with two outs, but John Carroll was able to get out of the inning without allowing any more runs.

Senior Bre Willis (Navarre/Fairless) went the distance in the pitcher's circle for the Raiders. Willis recorded four strikeouts while allowing five hits and just three earned runs.

Brittany Danilov earned the win for John Carroll to improve to 11-5 on the season. She had 10 strikeouts while scattering four hits over seven innings of work.

The Raider bats came alive in the second game, putting three runs on the board in the 1st inning. Junior Kristen Gromes (Navarre/Fairless) drew a leadoff walk and Earl reached on an error that put both runners in scoring position. Gromes then scored on a sac fly by Siedlak and Papp drove in two more runs with a single a few batters later.

Earl added her second home run of the day, and fourth of the season, with two outs and one runner on base in the 2nd inning to give the Raiders a 5-0 lead. She added a two-run single in the fourth inning and finished the game 2-of-4 from the plate with four RBI and a pair of runs scored.

Mount Union tallied 10 hits in the nightcap as Papp and Gromes also recorded multi-hit games. Papp went 2-for-4 with three RBI while Gromes went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.

Junior Rachel McAninch (West Jefferson/West Jefferson) threw her 12th complete game of the season to pick up win number five. McAninch had six strikeouts and did not walk any batters while allowing three earned runs on eight hits.

Heather Hurley provided all of the scoring for John Carroll, going 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI. Trisha Pike (7-4) took the loss for the Blue Streaks. Pike pitched 5.1 innings and allowed seven runs on seven hits.

Mount Union travels to first place Ohio Northern for a doubleheader Saturday at 1 pm.

John Carroll 6, Mount Union 3 (Game 1)
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Mount Union......... 000 003 0 -  3  4  1      (12-17, 2-7 OAC)
John Carroll........ 001 320 X -  6  5  2      (18-9, 3-4 OAC)
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Pitchers: Mount Union - B. Willis and B. Papp. John Carroll - Danilov and Griffin.
Win-Danilov(11-5)  Loss-B. Willis(6-8)  T-1:20  A-58
HR MTU - M. Earl.
HR JCU - Robinson.
Weather: mid 50s, sunny, lite wind

Mount Union 8, John Carroll 3 (Game 2)
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Mount Union......... 320 200 1 -  8 10  0      (13-17, 3-7-0 OAC)
John Carroll........ 002 010 0 -  3  8  1      (18-10, 3-5-0 OAC)
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Pitchers: Mount Union - R. McAninch and B. Papp. John Carroll - Pike; Danilov(6) and Griffin.
Win-R. McAninch(5-9)  Loss-Pike(7-4)  T-1:25  A-59
HR MTU - M. Earl.
Weather: lo 50s, sunny, lite breeze