HELENA, Mont. – Carroll softball relied on the long ball to win the first game 10-1 over University of Great Falls but dropped the second game 10-1 to split.
The Saints have struggled in the first inning this season, and did again, giving up a run on a RBI single to center field.
The game remained 1-0 until the bottom of the second inning, with
Megan Gipe on second with two outs.
Kaydee Parsons fouled off six straight pitches before finally connecting on a high fast ball for a two run home run over the right field fence. Her second of the season, giving the Saints a 2-1 lead.
Tianna Sell drove in her first run in the bottom of the third on a sac-fly, scoring
Paige Blake. With a runner on third, Taylor Otswald drew a walk then
Courtney Cloud was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Gipe on a 1-0 count hit her first career grand slam to deep left field to broke open a 7-0 lead after three.
The Saints added three more runs in the fourth inning after
Tianna Sell homered on a line drive to left field, scoring Blake and pinch-runner
Destry McNellis. Sell's fourth home run of the season and fourth RBIs of the games securing the 10-1 victory over the Argos.
Gipe got the start on the rubber, going five innings, allowing one run on only two hits while striking out one hitter.
"Gipe is really pitching well right now for us." said head coach
Aaron Jackson. "We can count on her and the offense backed her up with some timely hits."
Sell went 2-2 with four RBIs while Gipe was 2-3 on the day with also four RBIs and two runs scored.
All three home runs came with two outs in the inning for the Saints.
The Argos responded in the second game with a four run third inning highlighted by a bases clearing double by Haley Swan with one out in the inning.
Great Falls added to lead in the fifth inning with RBI singles by Alissa Keeler and Jocelyn Kaufman and a RBI double by Jackie Thomas. Six runs scored in the inning on six hits and one error, including five straight hits by the Argos.
The Saints tacked on one run in the bottom half of the inning on a two out single by Blake, scoring Cloud but it would not be enough has the Argos claim the 10-1 vicotry.
Tess Eaton picked up the loss, dropping to 5-4 on the season after throwing three innings, allowing four runs on six hits. MacKenna Landis came in for relief, going two innings, giving up six runs on six hits.
Carroll tallied four hits in the second game from Blake,
Justine Taylor,
Allison Bayer and
Madison Soper.
"We were hoping to complete the sweep but the second game didn't go our way." Jackson said. "We will be ready tomorrow and take care of business on the road."
Carroll is now 22-16 overall on the season with a 9-9 record in conference play. The Saints and Argos play another doubleheader on Monday at Great Falls. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
The Saints need one win to secure a birth into the conference tournament in May.
