GILBERT, Ariz. - The Carroll College Softball team started their 2024 campaign with a split in an afternoon doubleheader at Park University in Gilbert, Ariz.

The Fighting Saints (1-1) showed that they have plenty of firepower in a pair of games against the Buccaneers (1-3), but couldn't quite come out with two wins on opening day.

The first game of the day was as good as Carroll could have hoped for.

Carroll got on the board with their first runs of the season in the second inning. With a pair of runners on, Liz Ybarra (Fullerton, Calif. / FR) singled and a run would score on a throwing error to give the Saints their first lead of the season. On the next at-bat, Sammie Labrum (Kalispell, Mont. / SO) stole home to double the Carroll lead, 2-0 through two.

The score would remain 2-0 into the final inning before a pair of big blasts would lock up the win for the Saints. Ellie Koerber (Billings, Mont. / JR) was responsible for the first homer of the season for Carroll, knocking a two-run dinger to again double the Carroll lead, 4-0. Kenna Thomas (Belgrade, Mont. / JR) put the exclamation point on the win with a solo shot later in the inning, securing the 5-0 season opening win.

Kennedy Venner (Billings, Mont. / SO) had a terrific first start, going all seven innings, pitching a three-hit shutout featuring 14 punch-outs.

The second game of the afternoon was a much higher-scoring affair.

A two-run double by Kati Slater (Yamhill, Ore. / SO) in the top of the first would put Carroll on top, but not for long. The Buccaneers would respond with five runs in the bottom of the first inning to take control, 5-2.

Koerber continued her strong showing on opening day, blasting her second homer of the afternoon in the second inning, another two-run shot, to bring Carroll within one, 5-4. Park responded, adding a solo home-run to lead 6-4 after two.

2023 First Team All-CCC selection Kaitlynn Ayers (Twin Falls, Idaho / SR) picked up her first homer of the year in the third inning, and Abbie Amend (Spokane, Wash. / SO) brought in another run in the third to even the game at 6-6.

Koerber's breakout day at the plate continued in the fourth as she knocked in her third homer of the afternoon to give Carroll a 7-6 lead.

Carroll would add one more run in the sixth inning, but allowed four runs over the final three innings to drop the game, 10-8.

The Saints will not have time to dwell on the loss, as they turn around and take on Vanguard (Calif.) and Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) tomorrow in their second day of action in Arizona.

Visit www.carrollathletics.com for a recap of those games, and to stay up to date with everything going on in Carroll Athletics.