MISSOULA, Mont. - The Carroll College Softball team dropped a pair of games, one counting towards their record and one exhibition, to the University of Montana on Monday afternoon in Missoula.

The Fighting Saints (9-15, 5-7) couldn't get any momentum in game one, but gave themselves a chance for victory in the second game with NCAA Division I Montana (4-23), ultimately falling just short in a comeback effort.

Things got hairy in a hurry for the Saints in game one. With one run already on the board in the bottom of the first, a bases-loaded triple from Presley Jantzi scored three more. The Griz would score one more run on steal at home while the ball was on its way to first after a dropped third strike, making it 5-0 in favor of Montana after one.

Carroll got one run back in the fourth inning after a series of walks and hit-by-pitches loaded the bases. Unfortunately for the Saints, they would not be able to add to their total.

Montana added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, then provided the final blow with a two-run home run from Hannah Joblonski to end the game via run rule in the fifth inning.

It was a tough go at the plate for the Saints, with Alyssa Lybbert (Las Vegas, Nev. / SO) providing Carroll's lone hit, a double to center field, in the fifth inning.

Montana once again took a lead in the first inning in game two of the day. Kelly Sweyer provided a two-run homer to put the Griz up 2-0 after one.

Haylee Curry (Belgrade, Mont. / SR) gave Carroll a spark in the second inning. The Senior sent a solo shot over the left field fence to cut into the lead, 2-1.

Montana would add another run in the third, and Hannah Jablonski hit her second homer of the day in the fourth inning to extend their lead to 4-1.

Carroll would even things up in the fifth. A Kenna Thomas (Belgrade, Mont. / SO) single, aided by a throwing error, would score two runs. Lybbert would lay down a near perfect sacrifice bunt, scoring Thomas and evening things up at 5-5.

The Griz added three runs in the bottom of the fifth, however, to regain control of the game.

Down to their final three outs, Carroll fought at the plate. After two hits to open the frame, Lybbert once again delivered, grounding to short but scoring one in the process to bring Carroll within two runs with two on board. The Saints would be unable to find a way to bring the two other runners home, falling 7-5 in the exhibition.

On deck for the Saints is yet another long road trip. Carroll will head to Salem, Ore. for a weekend series with Corban on Thursday.

Visit www.carrollathletics.com for a preview of that series, and to stay up to date with everything going on in Carroll Athletics.