HELENA, Mont. - The Carroll Softball team split an afternoon doubleheader with the University of British Columbia, picking up a 6-2 in the opener before falling 11-6 in game two on Thursday afternoon at Centennial Park.

The Fighting Saints (12-13-1, 7-6) scored six twice on Thursday. The first six good enough for a win, and the second six well short of an 11-run outburst from the Thunderbirds (15-12, 7-6) as the pair remain tied for fifth place in the Cascade Collegiate Conference standings.

GAME ONE
Carroll picked up an unconventional first run in the opener. After loading the bases UBC walked in the game's first run. Carroll kept the pressure on with all three bases covered as Kenna Thomas (Belgrade, Mont. / JR) knocked a two-RBI single into the gap in right center, and the Saints would take a 3-0 lead into the third. Bookelynn Jackson (Keizer, Ore. / FR) picked up an RBI single in the third, extending the Carroll lead to 4-0.

Kennedy Venner (Billings, Mont. / SO) had another strong outing. The sophomore picked up four strikeouts, not allowing a run until the sixth inning. The Thunderbirds made things interesting in the sixth, scoring two to cut the lead in half, 4-2, but Thomas came up clutch in the bottom half of the inning in response. Thomas blasted a two-run shot over the right field fence to give Carroll a 6-2 lead that they wouldn't surrender.

GAME TWO
The UBC bats would come alive in the back-half of the doubleheader, as a five-run top of the third set the 'Brids up for success. Keona Nordquist got the run started for UBC with a two-RBI double. A throwing error from deep center aided the Thunderbirds in scoring three more to jump way out in front. A sacrifice fly in the fourth extended the lead to six runs before Carroll could score.

Kati Slater (Yamhill, Ore. / SO) hit into a fielder's choice in the bottom of the fourth, scoring one to trim the lead to 6-1.

UBC batted around in the top half of the fifth, with a number of sharp liners up the middle of the field doing damage. In total, the Thunderbirds plated five runs in the frame, putting Carroll in danger of a run-rule loss as they trailed 11-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth.

Carroll would not go down quietly, however, responding with four runs of their own to keep playing. Alyssa Lybbert (Las Vegas, Nev. / JR), Carlee Smith (Blackfoot, Idaho / FR), and Brooklyn Dryden (Deer Park, Wash. / FR) each drove in a run and Lane Bauer (Missoula, Mont. / SR) drew a bases-loaded walk to bring the tally to 11-5 entering the sixth.

Kenna Thomas continued her strong day, adding an RBI single in the sixth, but the Carroll comeback would fall short and UBC would take game two, 11-6.

UBC's Shea Sever went 2-4 at the plate, and struck out six batters in her game two win for the 'Birds.

The teams will hit the diamond again in the morning, with another doubleheader starting at 11 a.m., followed by a 1 p.m. final game of the series.

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