EUGENE, Ore. – The Carroll Softball team earned a series win on Saturday, splitting a double-header against Bushnell University. The Saints won the first game of the day, which was the final conference game of the weekend, 8-5 before losing the second game 9-8.
 
Carroll got off to a hot start in the first game, pushing two first inning runs across on a Kenna Thomas RBI single and an Anna Davidson RBI groundout.
 
Bushnell scored on an RBI single in the second, then Carroll extended their lead to 3-1 in the fourth on a Kaitlynn Ayers RBI double.
 
The Saints blew the game open in the fifth inning. Amber Brewer scored Jessica Nimmo and Kenna Thomas on a single, then Kirsten Norris stepped up to the plate and brought Brewer home on a triple. Anna Davidson capped off the inning by scoring Norris with a single, putting Carroll ahead 7-2.
 
The Beacons were able to cut the deficit to two runs, but an Alyssa Lybert RBI single in the seventh proved to be the knockout punch in an 8-5 Saints victory.
 
The second game was another high-scoring affair that began with Emma Hamilton singling in two runs in the top of the first inning.
 
Bushnell countered with an offensive explosion in the bottom of the second inning, tallying six runs to go up 6-2.
 
Carroll tied the game in the sixth inning by scoring four runs. Haylee Curry brought one in on a sacrifice fly, then Anna Davidson continued her big weekend with a three-RBI base-clearing double.
 
The Beacons broke a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the sixth on a solo shot. The Saints countered once more as Amber Countryman doubled in two, giving her team an 8-7 lead ahead of the final frame.
 
Bushnell had one more rally left in the tank, however, and they went on to win the game 9-8 courtesy of a Jordan Kuykendall two-RBI walk-off single.
 
Carroll will return to the diamond on Wednesday for a double-header against Providence in Great Falls. They also host University of British Columbia on Friday and Saturday at Centennial Park.