KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - For the first time in the ten-year history of the program, the Carroll Softball team won at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship, taking down No. 15 College of Idaho 3-1 in an opening round contest.

The Fighting Saints (20-26-1) made history on Friday afternoon in Southern Oregon, beating the third-seeded Yotes (32-16) to claim the school's first postseason win in its 10-year history.

After a scoreless opening frame, Carroll struck first in the opening round tilt.

Ellie Koerber (Billings, Mont. / JR) threw down a surprise bunt for a single to lead off the frame, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kati Slater (Yamhill, Ore. / SO) in the next at-bat. Liz Ybarra (Fullerton, Calif. / SO) singled up the middle to move Koerber to third, and Kaitlynn Ayers (Twin Falls, Idaho / SR) loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch. Second Team All-CCC selection Kenna Thomas (Belgrade, Mont. / JR) delivered with her bases loaded opportunity. Thomas singled into left field, scoring both Koerber and Ybarra to give the Saints a 2-0 advantage in the second inning.

After a pair of walks in the top of the fourth, Carroll extended its lead on a throwing error by the C of I shortstop. Abbie Amend (Spokane, Wash. / SO) advanced home all the way from second on the error, giving the Saints a 3-0 lead.

Kennedy Venner (Billings, Mont. / SO) was brilliant in the circle for the Saints. The First Team All-CCC Pitcher punched out six batters, allowing just four hits and one walk on the afternoon.

One of those four hits was a solo home run allowed in the bottom half of the fourth inning to the conference's home run leader, Lolo Walker. Walker's 17th home run of the year cut the Saints' lead to two runs, 3-1, but that would be all the closer the game would ever get. Venner did not give up a single hit over the final three innings, and Carroll would advance in the winners bracket for the first time in program history.

Thomas went 1-4 on the afternoon, but drove in the critical two runs in the second, while Alyssa Lybbert (Las Vegas, Nev. / JR) went 2-3 with a walk.

It will be a quick turnaround for the Saints, who now will face two-seed Eastern Oregon at 5:30 p.m. tonight at Stilwell Stadium with a spot in the semifinals on the line.

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.