GLENDALE, Ariz. - The Carroll College Softball team hit the field for the second day in a row, splitting a pair of games in the desert. Carroll toppled Vanguard (Calif.) 4-3 in the morning, before falling 9-1 to Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) in the afternoon game on Thursday.

The Fighting Saints (2-2) saw another good game from Kennedy Venner (Billings, Mont. / SO) in the 4-3 early game against Vanguard. Venner went all seven innings to pick up her second win of the season.

Carroll got on the board first with a big bottom of the third. A throwing error by Vanguard allowed everyone to reach base safely, and one run to cross home plate to open the scoring. Two batters later, Kaitlynn Ayers (Twin Falls, Idaho / SR) would knock in another two runs with a double into the left centerfield gap to give Carroll a 3-0 lead after three.

Ellie Koerber (Billings, Mont. / JR) continued her hot start to the year, picking up an RBI single in the fourth inning to stretch the Carroll lead to 4-0.

Things would get a little dicey for the Saints in the late innings as Vanguard mounted a comeback. A two-run double in the sixth cut the lead in half, 4-2, followed by a seventh inning solo homer by the Lions would narrow the lead to just one run. Venner managed to strike out the final batter, however, and Carroll would grab win No. 2 on the year. 

Things would not go as smooth in the second game of the day, and Carroll would fall 9-1 in a five-inning game to Embry-Riddle.

The Eagles got on top early, and never looked back in the afternoon game, out-hitting the Saints 10-2.

Kenna Thomas (Belgrade, Mont. / JR) was the lone bright spot in the second game, blasting a solo home run in the third inning.

The marathon week continues tomorrow for the Saints, starting with a rematch against Vanguard in the morning, and ending with an afternoon tilt with Arizona Christian.

Visit www.carrollathetlics.com tomorrow evening for a recap of those games, and to stay uo to date with everything going on in Carroll Athletics.