HELENA, Mont. - The Carroll College Softball team picked up a pair of wins over Providence on Thursday afternoon in their season finale, punching their ticket to the CCC Championship for the third consecutive season.

The Fighting Saints (17-24, 12-15) have flair for the dramatic, with Thursday's wins marking the third-straight year in which their postseason hopes boiled down to the final week of the season. A win over the Argos (9-29, 5-22) in the first game of the day ensured Carroll's five seniors (Thomas, Sunchild, Ybarra, Lybbert, Koerber) one final opportunity to chase the CCC crown.

GAME ONE: Carroll - 2, Providence - 1

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Just 24 hours removed from a dominant outing in the first game of the series, Kennedy Venner (Billings, Mont. / JR) put on another dazzling display in the circle for the Saints.

Venner punched out eight batters, following up an impressive 12-strikeout performance yesterday, to power the Saints to a postseason berth.

The Saints scored their pair of runs early in the game, as for the second day in a row their first run was plated courtesy of a throwing error sailing out of play. Two batters later, Morgan Sunchild would pick up an RBI on a sharp groundout to third base, giving Carroll a 2-0 lead after one.

Liz Ybarra started the game, and ended the game, with a bang for the Fighting Saints. Her leadoff single would prove to be incredibly important, as Carroll would go without a hit for the remainder of the game.

Like Carroll, Providence's first run of the afternoon came by way of error, as a bad exchange at first base allowed Tehneson Ehnes to score, halving the Carroll lead with the game winding down. Venner picked up right where she left off on the next batter, however, adding another strikeout to her tally and get out of the inning without any further damage.

Alyssa Lybbert (Las Vegas, Nev. / SR) gunned down an Argo baserunner attempting to steal second in the top half of the seventh inning, clearing the bags and moving Carroll within one out of the postseason.

Ybarra made the play of the day on the next pitch, charging in from her normal positioning in left field to make a diving grab to lock up the win for the Saints.

GAME TWO: Carroll - 9, Providence - 1 (6 innings - Non-Conference)

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With the conference slate wrapped up and the postseason field set, both teams seized the opportunity to get some younger players onto the field.

Providence opened the scoring in game two with big contributions from Syndee Weber. Weber blasted a double over the fence in left field, then stole third before being singled in by Jaden Ruiz.

Struggles finding the zone from Argo pitcher Nikki Kendall, making just her fifth pitching appearance of the season, led to Carroll posting eight runs in the first two innings. In total, the eight walks, one hit-by-pitch, and an error in the first two frames helped give the Saints a sizable lead. 

Taylor Sayers (Helena, Mont. / FR) had an RBI single, Kenna Thomas (Belgrade, Mont. / SR) had an RBI double, and Brynn Notbohm (Miles City, Mont. / FR) added a two RBI double to cap the big start for the Saints.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Alyssa Lybbert (Las Vegas, Nev. / SR) blasted a triple to right center in her final home at-bat at Carroll. Ellie Koerber (Billings, Mont. / SR) drew a walk behind her, and Jolee Burgoyne (Helena, Mont. / FR) came up with a memorable moment to end the game.

Burgoyne laced a shot over the center fielder's head, giving the Saints a walk-off win in the home finale. Her RBI single not only ended the game, but it was the first hit of her young Carroll career.

Mckinley Ermshar (Battleground, Wash. / FR) was solid in the circle in the complete game win. The freshman struck-out six batters, allowing just one run on five hits in the win.

The Saints will await the results of this weekend's play around the league to determine who their opening round opponent will be, and where that game will be played.

Visit www.carrollathletics.com this weekend for info on the postseason, and to stay up to date with everything going on in Carroll Athletics.

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