HELENA, Mont. - The Carroll College Softball team dropped their first two games of this weekend's series to No. 1-ranked Southern Oregon on Friday, falling 6-1 in the opener, and 7-0 in game two on a windy day inside Nelson Stadium.

The Fighting Saints (5-9, 2-3) couldn't get the bats working in a pair of Friday losses to the top-ranked Raiders (19-1, 5-0).

GAME ONE: SOU - 6, Carroll - 1

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Ayla Davies, the three-time CCC Pitcher of the Week, got the nod in the circle for game one of the weekend series, striking out eight in a complete game effort while allowing just four hits to lead SOU to victory.

The Raiders got on the board first with a sharp single from Sarah Kerling. Kerling's hot shot was just out of reach of the shortstop, sneaking into shallow center off the end of the mitt to drive home Kennedy Kila. Kerling attempted to stretch the base hit into a double, but was gunned down at second to end the inning after the run was plated.

Piper Love drove in a two RBI single in the top of the third inning, extending the Raiders' lead to 3-0.

Kerling grabbed her second RBI of the day in the top of the sixth inning, singling to center field. Just a couple batters behind her, Faith Moultrie would add on a pair of runs with a single into left field to give SOU a 6-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.

A two-out error in the bottom of the sixth allowed Kenna Thomas (Belgrade, Mont. / SR) to reach second, leading up to an RBI single from Morgan Sunchild (Great Falls, Mont. / SR) to put the Saints on the board 6-1.

The Saints couldn't build momentum off of a 1-2-3 top half of the seventh, stranding two in the bottom of the frame to end the loss, 6-1.

SOU out-hit the Saints 13-4 in the opener, as Faith Moultrie led all players with a 4-4 effort at the plate with 2 RBI and one run scored.

GAME TWO: SOU - 7, Carroll - 0

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Another impressive pitching performance was on display in game No. 2 for the Raiders, as Mayze Menefee tossed a complete game shutout, allowing just five hits.

Abbie Amend (Spokane, Wash. / JR) made quick work of the Raiders in the first inning, before the SOU bats would catch up in the second frame.

Piper Love drove in the first run of the game on an RBI single to left field before Brooke Nordahl brought her home with an RBI triple to the right field fence. Sarah Kerling added a third RBI of the day with an infield single to third, before eventually getting caught stealing to end the inning. The four hits in the frame, however, led to a three run lead after two for the Raiders.

Back to back ground rule doubles bounced over the fence in the third inning, as Ari Williams brought home the lead-off batter before crossing home herself on Love's second RBI of the game to extend the Raider lead to 5-0.

An error in the top of the fifth inning allowed Kailer Fulton to advance safely to second base and Vanessa Lang to score, ending Amend's day at 4.0 innings pitched. Moultrie continued her great day at the plate, driving in one final RBi single to put SOU on top 7-0 after five, a lead they wouldn't surrender.

Carroll threatened in the sixth inning, loading the bases following a pair of singles and a walk, but Menefee got herself out of the jam to help secure the second win of the afternoon for Southern Oregon.

Both Love and Williams were 2-3 in game two, with Love adding two RBI's and one run while Williams had one RBI and two runs.

The teams will return to the turf tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. for the final conference game of the weekend series ahead of a non-conference tilt at 1 p.m.

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

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