HELENA, Mont. – Carroll College softball fell 10-0 and 12-0 on the road to the University of Montana in an afternoon doubleheader at the Montana softball field in Missoula.
 
"We didn't bring Saints softball today," head coach Aaron Jackson said. "We had good at-bats at times, we hit balls hard at times but we didn't consistently do that throughout the games. When a team like Montana hits the ball well you have to be able to hit with them."
 
The Griz got things going with three runs in the bottom of the first on a three-run home run by Delene Colburn. Things escalated from there. Montana scored four runs in the second inning and three runs in the fourth. The Saints couldn't muster a response and Montana prevailed on the run rule after four and a half innings.
 
"I felt like we should have been in the games and gave them a little run for their money," Jackson said. "We've got to show up to the field every single play. It is another lesson learned but it is part of the process, we are a young program and we need to learn how to bring a winning mentality every single game. We are going to be better for it, the next time we have this opportunity we are going to take full advantage of it."
 
The second game had a similar storyline. Montana scored six runs in the first inning and two runs each in the second, third and fourth innings.  Again, Carroll didn't score any points despite racking up four hits.
 
"If we could have strung together some hits and put some pressure on Montana it could have been a different ball game," Jackson said. "When you allow a team and a pitcher to get into that grove it gets tough to win ball games."
 
The doubleheader was the first meeting of the two first-year programs and a chance for the Carroll players to see the new Griz softball facility, still a work in progress but already the best softball field in the state.
 
"It is a great environment to play in and we need to learn to take advantage of a great environment like this," Jackson said. "I hope one day that Carroll College has a great facility and we can have the experience like this every game."
 
Carroll falls to 12-24 on the season. The losses broke a five-game win streak for the Saints.
 
Carroll closes out the season with a four-game series at the University of Great Falls on April 25-26. The Saints are 2-6 against the Argos this season.