HELENA, Mont. – Carroll College softball split a doubleheader with Providence, losing the first, Cascade Conference game 7-4 before winning the non-conference finale 10-2 in five innings.
The Saints (27-13, 13-8 CCC) won the series, because of a doubleheader sweep earlier in the week and sit fifth in the Cascade Conference standings. Providence (7-23, 5-15 CCC) currently sits eighth. Six teams make the conference tournament and five teams are still in the running for the conference regular-season title, including the Carroll.
In game one Sunday, the Argos got the scoring going early with a run on a passed ball to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
The Saints answered with a two-run home run in the bottom of the third to take a 2-1 lead.
Providence responded with a three-run fourth inning to take a 4-2 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth,
Brittany Hogan doubled to left field to score
Brittany Smith to cut the deficit to 4-3, but that would be all of the runs that the Saints would muster.
The Argos added a run in the fifth and two in the seventh to take a 7-3 lead and ultimately hold on for the four-run win.
Tess Eaton lost for the first time this season and is now 10-1 on the year. She struck out seven and walked four in the game.
The Saints outhit UP 7-6, but failed to get timely hitting and left eight on base.
"In game one our defense let us down," head coach
Aaron Jackson said. "We had opportunities to break the game one but couldn't get the big hit to drop. But I love the fight my teamed showed and came out in game two and controlled it from the start."
In the second game, the Carroll offense got going early and often.
The Saints got on the board when
Kendall Mooney reached on a fielder's choice that scored ApRoberts
Brittany Smith singled in the next at-bat to score
Allison Bayer. Carroll added two runs on a wild pitches.
The fifth and final run of the inning came when
Brooke Yarnall stole second and Smith advanced home on the throw.
Providence added a run in the second, but Carroll responded with a pair of runs on bases-loaded walks to take a 7-1 lead.
The Saints went up 8-1 in the bottom of the third when
Courtney Schroeder grounded out to third but scored
Katie Huisman from third.
Providence scored one in the fourth, but the Saints picked up two with a triple down the right-field line to score Smith. The final run came on a Huisman single to centerfield to score
Ashley Davis.
Brooke Brown moved to 5-5 on the year. She struck out five without a walk and allowed just three hits.
The Saints notched 11 hits. Bayer went 2-2 on the day. She picked up a hit in every game of the 10-game homestand. In the 10-game stretch, she went 19-33 (57.6 percent) with six doubles and a home run. As a team on the homestand, the Saints batted .302 and had a team ERA of 1.28.
"I am proud of my team to be able to go 8-2 win all three series and allow us to control our own destiny over the last two weeks," Jackson said. "Two big weeks coming up for us and we have an opportunity to climb the ladder. I would like to thank the all fans that came out this week. Also a special thanks to all that made it happen to allow us to play in Helena."
The Saints have 10 games remaining on the slate, beginning with a doubleheader against Montana in Missoula Wednesday, before heading to Southern Oregon next weekend. The games in Missoula will be broadcast live on SWX Montana.
