HELENA, Mont. – Carroll College softball split their doubleheader against conference opponent Northwest University, winning the first 5-1 but dropping the second 6-4 Saturday in Kirkland, Washington.
 
The Saints have been outscored 24 to 8 in the first inning so far this season but in game one, Carroll was able to grab the early lead after Tianna Sell's RBI single drove in lead-off hitter Jaylin Kenney.
 
Carroll broke out with a four-run second inning starting with Kenney's two-run double, scoring Paige Blake and Jadeen Sakauye. Sell and Allison Bayer each added a RBI off of doubles later in the inning. Saints led 5-0 after two innings.
 
Tess Eaton got the start for the Saints, rewarding them with a four hit complete game.  The only run allowed came in the seventh inning while she struck out a career-high six batters.
 
Eaton improved to 3-3 on the year while Kenney backed her up with a 2-3 day at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored.
 
Bayer was 1-3 with a run and RBI and Sell hitting in the clean up spot went 2-4 with two RBIs.
 
"Our offense got us the lead early." Said head coach Aaron Jackson. "[Eaton] pitched great and defense made plays behind her all day."
In the second game, pitching dominated early, both teams scoreless entering the fifth inning.
 
The Saints got on the board first when Brittany Hogan singled to second and Courtney Cloud came home on an error. Bayer added to the score with a RBI double down the left field line, scoring Hogan.
 
The Eagles responded with a six run fifth inning capitalizing on an error by the Saints and four doubles in the inning. Northwest claimed its' first lead of the day 6-2 after five innings.
 
Carroll cut into the score the next half inning after pinch-hitter, Sell, hit a sac-fly to drive in catcher Madison Soper.
 
Entering the final inning, the Saints trailed 6-3.  Kaydee Parsons and Hogan led off the inning with back-to-back singles. After a groundout, Kenney walked to load the bases with one out. Justine Taylor grounded out to second base but drove in a run and moved the runners to second and third base. Bayer had a chance to tie the game but popped up to pitcher and Northwest sealed up the 6-4 victory.
 
"We had a chance to win the game." Jackson said. "One inning got away from us but we played 13 great innings today."
 
Hogan went 2-3 for the Saints with run scored while Cloud also went 2-3 with a run scored.
 
MacKenna Landis started the game for the Saints, going four and two-thirds innings. She gave up six runs, two earned, on eight hits while walking two.
 
Eaton came in for relief, throwing the last one and one-third innings and gave up one hit.
 
Carroll's record is now 15-15 on the season with a 4-8 standing in conference play. The next game for the Saints will be a doubleheader at home Friday against Eastern Oregon.
 
First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. and there will be live stats and delayed video of the game that can be found on the Carroll Athletics YouTube page.