GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Carroll softball clinched the East Division in Cascade Conference after splitting a doubleheader against University of Great Falls, losing 1-0 but responding with a 12-3 victory.
Megan Gipe and Keeley Van Blaricom pitched an old-fashion pitcher's duel giving up only eight hits between them all game. Gipe stranded runners on third in the first, fifth inning and a runner on second in the seventh.
The Argos got a runner on second after a one out double to left center. After a walk to set up a double play, Haley Gruntowicz hit a walk-off double to right center field to win 1-0 over the Saints.
Gipe pitched seven and one-third innings, giving up one run on five hits while striking out four.
"We got away from our process in this game." said head coach
Aaron Jackson. "Megan pitched great again, we just need to get her some runs."
Carroll's bats came alive in the second game, starting with a two out double by
Tianna Sell, scoring
Allison Bayer. Saints led 1-0 after one inning.
The Saints opened up the lead with a five run second inning, highlighted by RBI singles by Gipe, Bayer, and Taylor Otswald.
Justine Taylor also scored in the inning off of a wild pitch. Saints led 6-0 after two innings.
Justine Taylor, with two runners on, hit a triple to drive in two more runs and increase the Saints lead to 8-0 after three innings.
Otswald and
Courtney Cloud scored on wild pitches in the fourth inning to give the Saints a 10-0 lead.
The Argos were down to last out in the fourth inning with runners on third and second. Two RBI singles and passed ball later, UGF cut the lead to 10-3 to stay alive and move the game to the fifth inning.
With the bases loaded in the sixth inning for the Saints,
Justine Taylor walked in a run then next batter Bayer singled to left to score
Ashley Davis and clinch the 12-3 victory.
MacKenna Landis got the start for the Saints, going three and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits. She picked up the victory and improved to 5-3 overall. Davis threw two and one-thirds in relief, giving up only one hits and no runs.
Carroll clinched the East Division with their win over Great Falls and will have a bye to the semifinals in the Conference tournament.
"It feels pretty awesome to know we are going to the postseason." Jackson said. "This is special bunch of girls and they fought back to win the division."
The Saints close out the regular season on the road with doubleheaders against Corban University and Northwest Christian on Friday and Saturday.
