IN THE CIRCLE — Brooke pitcher Lex Foresha pitches to John Marshall batter Paytyn Tucker during Wednesday’s doubleheader. - Cody Nespor

GLEN DALE — The John Marshall softball team celebrated senior day in style Wednesday by sweeping a doubleheader against the visiting Brooke Bruins.

John Marshall (12-5) won both games via the mercy-rule, taking game one 15-0 in four innings and game two 11-3 in five.

JM pitcher Ryleigh Morgan tossed a gem in the first game, completing a four-inning no-hitter while striking out four. She allowed just two baserunners on a walk and an error and neither advanced past first base.

“She was locating her pitches really well and kept them off stride a little bit with her changeup,” said JM coach Ed West. “She was well-rested too, she hadn’t pitched in a few days and I think she was really sharp.”

At the plate, the Monarchs struck for three runs in the first inning, two in the second and exploded for 10 in the fourth to put the game away. During that fourth-inning onslaught, Adrianna Skrzyneki, Morgan, Shelby Koontz, Gracie Wade and Sophia Adkins each hit a double.

“We didn’t play good defense in game one at all,” admitted Brooke coach Jim DiCarlo. “If you make mistakes on these guys, they’re going to capitalize and that’s exactly what happened.”

Adkins finished the game with three hits, two doubles and three RBI, Skrzyneki had two doubles and four RBI and shortstop Ava Blake, who launched a two-run home run in the second inning, finished with three hits and three RBI.

To start game two, the Monarchs picked up two early runs thanks to some nifty baserunning.

Twice in the first inning, John Marshall had runners on the corners and both times they were able to score a run on a steal play. The runner from first attempted to steal second base and when Brooke’s catcher would throw to second, the runner from third would scamper home. Both times, the baserunner was safe at second and the runner from third was able to score.

“If they throw the whole way down to second, we’re going to send the runner from third most of the time,” West said. “When they throw all the way down to second, very fews teams have good enough arms to get the out at second and get the out at home. Sometimes they will get the out at second, but they sacrifice the run.”

JM added a third run in the frame on an RBI single by Adkins. The Monarchs struck for three more in the second inning thanks to back-to-back RBI knocks by Blake and Adkins.

The Bruins’ (6-7) bats finally got going in the top of the third with Hayley Moore recording the team’s first hit of the night to get on with one out. Three batters later, first baseman Landry Bone struck a two-run double over the centerfielder’s head to score Moore and Emily Nor and and pull within 6-2.

JM’s offense kept humming, however, as they scored five two-out runs in the bottom of the third, three coming home on an Adkins bloop single into right field.

In the doubleheader, Adkins finished with six hits in seven at bats with two doubles and eight runs batted in.

“She’s been stroking the ball really well for the last half of our season,” West said of Adkins. “She started off a little slow at the beginning, but then she started getting her swing down and became really patient at the plate. She used to swing at a lot of pitches out of the strike zone and it hurt her. Lately, she’s been more disciplined and has been getting a lot of good swings at good pitches.”

Brooke scored one more run in the top of the fifth.

Kadence Pettit started the second game in the circle for the Monarchs and got the win, striking out eight Bruins and allowing two earned runs.

Senior outfielder Paytyn Tucker hit leadoff for the Monarchs in game two and went 3-for-3 with an RBI, hitting a single each time up to bat and scoring three runs. Before the action got started Wednesday, Tucker announced on social media that she had committed to play college softball at nearby West Liberty.

“Paytyn has really good speed,” West said. “She does a lot of slapping to the left side and gets a lot of base hits that way.”

At the plate, Pettit drew three walks and scored three runs. Blake finished the doubleheader with six hits — five singles and a home run — and five RBI.

“They’re one of the best teams in the valley and they’ve been playing really well,” DiCarlo said. “Unless you play error-free and hit your spots pitching-wise, you’re going to be in trouble with these guys.”

Nor hit a single and a double and scored two runs in game two for Brooke while Bone finished with her two-run double.

John Marshall is scheduled to play at Warren Local later today and then make a trip up to Edison for another road game on Friday. Brooke is set to host East Liverpool this afternoon, weather permitting.

Game 1

John Marshall 15, Brooke 0

Brooke 0-0-0 0 — 0 0 3

JM 3-2-0 10 — 15 15 1

BROOKE — Bone lp (3K, 2BB), Jones (4) (0K, 0BB) and Brown.

JM — Morgan wp (4K, 1BB) and Bailey. Blake 2S, HR, 3rbi; Adkins s, 2D, 3rbi; Daugherty D; Skrzyneki 2D, 4rbi; Morgan D, rbi; Koontz S, D rbi; Liton S, D, rbi; Wade S, D, rbi.

Game 2

John Marshall 11, Brooke 3

Brooke 0-0-2 0-1 — 3 5 2

JM 3-3-5 0-x — 11 9 2

BROOKE — Foresha lp (1K, 4BB) and Brown. Nor S, D; Bone D, 2rbi.

JM — Pettit wp (8K, 0BB) and Adkins. Tucker 3S, rbi; Blake S, 2rbi; Adkins 3S, 5rbi.