HELENA, Mont. - The Carroll Softball team fell in a mid-day doubleheader, 3-2, 11-0 in the final home series of the 2024 season at Centennial Park on Saturday in Helena.

The Fighting Saints (17-24-1, 10-14) haven't been able to find ways to score in a tough two-week stretch against three top-25 teams (No. 11 EOU, No. 20 CoI, No. 5 OIT), and again had a hard time getting to the Owls pitchers this weekend in Helena.

GAME ONE:
Hits were equal in the morning game, as both Carroll and Oregon Tech each tallied seven hits, but the Owls managed to plate one more run to escape with a tight 3-2 win.

The Owls got two early baserunners in the top of the first, with a hit by pitch followed by an error to set the stage for the game's first runs. Lexi Klum blasted a ball to the fence in the right-center gap, allowing both runs to score, before ultimately being tagged out trying to stretch her double into a triple, and the Owls went up 2-0.

Kaitlynn Ayers (Twin Falls, Idaho / SR) cracked a looping double over the right fielder's head in her first at bat of her final CCC home game, and two batters later Alyssa Lybbert (Las Vegas, Nev. / JR) cashed her in with an RBI single to trim the lead to 2-1 after three.

The Owls' Lexi Klum led off the fourth with a single, was advanced to second on a sac bunt, and then scored on an Addison Kachnik double to stretch the lead back up to two runs, 3-1.

Brookelynn Jackson (Keizer, Ore. / FR) drew a walk in the fifth inning, then managed to score from second after an error on her attempt to steal third saw the ball bounce into empty space in left field, and once again the Saints pulled within one at 3-2.

The Saints just couldn't find a way to even things up, with just one hit in the sixth and seventh innings and the Owls would escape with the one-run win.

Both pitchers saw some contact, but both Kennedy Venner (Billings, Mont. / SO) and Kacie Schmidt struck out nine batters each in their complete game efforts.

Kenna Thomas (Belgrade, Mont. / JR) went 2-3 from the plate to lead the Saints offensively, while Klum led the Owls with a 3-3 day with one run and two RBI.

GAME TWO:
Coach Juarez tinkered with the lineup in the fourth game of the series, looking to get some of the younger Saints involved and rolling heading towards the postseason tournament, but a hot-hitting Oregon Tech team would not be denied the sweep.

Following two scoreless innings of work from Mackenzie Depaoli (Fernley, Nev. / FR), the Owl bats came alive. Puakea Milbourne started the offensive outburst with a two-run homer to left-center in the third. 

Oregon Tech scored four runs in the fourth, one on a passed ball, one on a routine ground out with a runner at third, and two on RBI doubles by Klum and Jayce Seavert as the Owls raced out to a 6-0 lead.

A five-run fifth inning was highlighted by another Klum two-run double for OIT. Carroll wouldn't have a response in the home half of the frame, and the run-rule 11-0 win gave the Owls the four-game sweep.

The Owls had 13 hits in their 28 plate appearances, while the Saints tallied just three team hits in 17 at-bats.

Up next, a season finale four-game series with Providence in Great Falls awaits the Saints next weekend. 

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