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HELENA, Mont. -- The Carroll College softball team will head to the College of Idaho this weekend aiming to keep a firm spot in the Cascade Collegiate Conference playoffs. 

College of Idaho (28-8-0 overall, 14-4-0 conference) has been hot lately. They have outscored their opponents 189-107 and they have also won 10 out of their last 12 games. 

"A battle of two hot teams," softball coach Aaron Jackson said. "Always a tough opponent for us. We consider them one of our rivals in our conference. It will be a great series."

Carroll's softball team (14-17, 7-11) will be a good test for College of Idaho, who has a very tough schedule looking ahead, playing four games against nationally ranked No. 12 Oregon Tech and Cascade leader No. 4 Southern Oregon.

The Yotes' impressive defense has allowed them to be ranked in the NAIA for different defensive stats. They are No. 7 in putouts per game (20.417), No. 9 in innings pitched per game (6.806) and No. 15 in chances per game (30.861).

The Coyotes have also been batting very well. They are led by three players with a batting average above .400: Crofts, who's also ranked No. 9 for total doubles (16), Maddox, who's leading their team with nine HR, and Goff.

The Saints have won five out of their last six games; they lost their last game at home against Northwest Christian 4-3. 

"Last six games we played great defense and made routine plays and had great performances in the circle," Jackson said. 

Anna ApRoberts is leading the Saints in batting average with .354, closely followed by Brooke Yarnall at .351 and freshman Amber Brewer with a .345 average.

Carroll is currently in the playoff standings and will try to hold its position, potentially climbing to the fifth spot in the Cascade if the Saints perform well this weekend. 

"Hopefully propel us into the final two weeks of the season and then the postseason run," Jackson said.

The doubleheader will start Friday at 2 p.m. in Caldwell, Idaho.