MINOT, N. D. - Carroll College softball split a pair of games Sunday, falling 13-5 to Minnesota Crookston before rebounding to top Minto 6-2 to close out a 3-1 weekend at the Minot State Bubble Invite.
 
The Saints struggled in the first game, and the Eagles got off to a big start, building a 5-0 lead before Carroll answered in the third with a sac fly from Natalie Gaber which scored Anna ApRoberts.
 
Later in the inning, Kendall Mooney homered to left field to score Allison Williams and Allison Bayer to cut the deficit to 5-4.
 
The close game would not last long. Crookston scored two in the bottom of the third and added five in the fourth. Gaber hit a grounder which scored Bayer to cut the deficit to 12-5.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Crookston added a run on an error which ended the game on a run-rule 13-5.
 
Carroll racked up eight hits but gave up 16.
 
The Saints bounced back in the second on offense and defense.
 
Minot State started the game with a run in the top of the first and held on to the lead until the bottom of the second when the Saints got on the board when Tianna Sell stole home. Carroll took the lead with a Mooney singled up the middle to score Jaylin Kenney.
 
In the next at-bat, Sell homered to left field to score Mooney and TJ Rucker and extend the lead to 5-2.
 
The Beavers scored a run in the sixth to cut the deficit to 5-2.
 
Brittany Hogan singled to right center in the sixth to score Brooke Yarnell and extend the lead to 6-2.
 
Minot left one runner on base in the top of the seventh and Carroll closed out the 6-2 win.
 
Tianna Sell tallied three hits and three RBIs to pace the Carroll offense. Williams picked up her fourth win of the year with three strikeouts, allowing six hits.
 
The Saints finished the weekend 3-1 and are now 7-4 on the year.
 
"It was great to be back on the field this weekend. We took another step forward in our process and showed that we can battle," head coach Aaron Jackson said. "Friday we controlled both games and had some great offensive performances. On Sunday we faced some adversity with a tough loss in which we did not play Saints softball. We battled back for a huge win over host Minot to win the weekend. The bats have come along, and our defense showed good improvement turning five double plays on the weekend. Our pitchers managed two teams that could put the ball in play and gave our offense a chance to win the games."
 
The Saints were scheduled to open Cascade Conference play this weekend against Providence at Centennial Park, but snow still covers the field. The games will be scheduled for later in the season when field conditions improve.
 
Because of the postponements, the Saints travel to play Ottawa Arizona and Benedictine Mesa on March 6-7.