HELENA, Mont. -- There's no place like home for the Fighting Saints.
Carroll College took care of business during its first true home games this season, sweeping British Columbia in a doubleheader on Friday.
The Saints defeated UBC 6-1 and 6-3 at Centennial Park.
Carroll used three home runs, building a 6-0 lead, to deflate the Thunderbirds in Game One.
Megan McCormick got it all started for the Saints, jacking a two-run homer in the bottom of the second.
Amber Brewer brought in one more run in the inning when she singled out to left center to give the Saints a 3-0 lead.
Carroll expanded upon that lead in the fourth inning.
Brewer struck again, hitting a two-run blast to build the lead up to five. Ali Williams added her own solo shot to give the Saints a commanding 6-0 lead.
Mia Valcke struck back for UBC in the top of the fifth inning. Valke hit an RBI single to bring the score to 6-1, but that would be it on for the Thunderbirds.
The Saints piled up 15 hits in the first game with Brewer and Williams leading the way. They both went 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run.
Tianna Sell,
Brittany Smith and McCormick also recorded multiple-hit games, each with two.
Tess Eaton got the win on the mound for Carroll. She allowed eight hits and one earned run while striking out three and walking two.
Carroll overcame a deficit in Game Two.
UBC leadoff hitter Claire Eccles hit a two-run homer in the third inning to put the Saints back 2-0.
The Saints responded in commanding fashion, as Sell hit a grand slam in the fourth inning to put the Saints up 4-2.
UBC added one more fun in the top of the fifth to bring the Thunderbirds within a run, 4-3.
Williams knocked her second home run of the day in the fifth inning to effectively seal the game, driving a two-run shot over the fence to give the Saints the 6-3 margin.
Natalie Gaber and
Jessica Nimmo both finished with two hits, while Sell and Williams made their solo hits count.
Williams was credited with the win on the mound. She allowed four hits and three earned runs while striking out three.
Carroll and UBC conclude their four-game series tomorrow with games at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.