BILLINGS, Mont. - The Carroll College Softball team picked up a shutout win in the opener before running out of daylight in the second game, forcing a tie in their afternoon doubleheader at NCAA Division II MSU Billings on Sunday afternoon.

The Fighting Saints (3-6-1) had one of their highest scoring days in recent history, totaling 21 runs scored in a doubleheader with the Yellowjackets on a mild February day.

GAME ONE:
A deadlock through three innings would break in favor of the Saints in the top half of the fourth. A three-hit inning would lead to three runs scored for Carroll. Ellie Koerber (Billings, Mont. / JR) laid down a bunt with two runners on, and after a pair of throws Sammie Labrum (Kalispell, Mont./ SO) scored from second to give Carroll their first run of the day. Kati Slater (Yamhill, Ore. / SO) and Liz Ybarra (Fullerton, Calif. / FR) each added RBI's to give Carroll a 3-0 lead after four.

Abbie Amend (Spokane, Wash. / SO) added an RBI single in the sixth inning, before Carroll busted things wide open in the seventh.

An eight-run top of the seventh saw eight different hits for the Saints. Labrum started the rout with a solo shot to center field. Ybarra brought home two runs with a shot back up the middle. Kenna Thomas (Belgrade, Mont. / JR) then knocked a three run blast out of the park, and Morgan Sunchild (Great Falls, Mont. / SO) capped the big inning with a two-run jack to give Carroll the 12-0 lead that wouldn't be surrendered.

Kennedy Venner (Billings, Mont. / SO) pitched a gem in a return to her hometown, striking out nine and allowing just five hits in the shutout win.

GAME TWO:
The back-half of the afternoon double-header was a much more wild affair, with both teams scoring back-and-forth throughout.

The 'Jackets got on the board first with an RBI double in the bottom of the first to open the scoring, but Carroll would respond in a grand way.

Brooklyn Dryden (Deer Park, Wash. / FR) blasted the Saints' first grand slam of the season in the top half of the second, putting Carroll in front 4-1. Alyssa Lybbert (Las Vegas, Nev. / JR) added an RBi single to make things 5-1 heading into the third.

Kaitlynn Ayers (Twin Falls, Idaho / SR) flashed her power, adding a solo shot in the third inning to give Carroll a 6-1 lead.

MSU-B got two runs back in the bottom of the third on a pair of solo homers cutting the Carroll lead in half.

Ayers added another RBI on a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, but the Yellow jackets would score another two to bring the game to 7-5 heading into the fifth.

Lybbert added another RBI in the top of the fifth, but again the 'Jackets scored two to continue to chip into the Carroll lead.

A Layne Bauer (Missoula, Mont. / SR) solo home run in the sixth inning put Carroll on top 9-7, but Carroll yielded two more runs in the bottom half of the inning and the game would be tied at 9-9.

Due to lack of light, a decision was made to call the game, and the Saints added a rare tie to their overall record.

Carroll will open Cascade Collegiate Conference play this coming Friday, with a season-opening trip to Caldwell, Idaho and a four game series with the College of Idaho.

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