Softball | 03/08/24 | 11:39 AM

HELENA, Mont. - The Carroll College Softball team will begin a four game weekend series with No. 8 Southern Oregon this afternoon in Ashland, Ore. as the Cascade Collegiate Conference season starts to ramp up. Friday's games are slated for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., and Saturday's doubleheader will be at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.

The Fighting Saints (3-8-1, 0-2) saw their opening series last weekend in Caldwell, Idaho against C of I cut short due to weather, but will look to even their CCC record this weekend against the always-tough Raiders (13-4, 3-0).

Carroll's bats were as cold as the weather last weekend in Idaho, and will look to heat things up in Ashland this week.

Juniors Ellie Koerber (Billings, Mont.) and Kenna Thomas (Belgrade, Mont.) are the top two offensive threats for the Saints this season. Koerber is hitting .364 and Thomas is right on her heels with a .355 average, and the pair have combined for more than half of the Carroll home runs on the season (Koerber 3, Thomas 4). Thomas also leads her team in RBI, knocking in eight runs on the season.

Kennedy Venner (Billings, Mont. / SO) is in line for the start in game one, entering the game off of a strong outing in Carroll's 1-0 loss last weekend to then-ranked No. 13 College of Idaho. Venner struck out six batters and allowed only one run on five hits, appearing primed for another good outing this afternoon.

The Raiders are one of the top teams in the CCC once again, and although early, are near the top of most statistical categories. SOU is second in the league in both team batting average (.345), as well as team ERA (2.35). Their high-powered offense has scored 131 runs on the season, tops in the conference by a wide margin (2. C of I - 90 runs).

Both games this afternoon will be streamed live HERE.

Live stats for the first game can be found HERE, and second game HERE.

Visit www.carrollathletics.com this evening for a recap of the action, and to stay up to date with everything going on in Carroll Athletics.