HELENA, Mont. - The rare midweek doubleheader for the Carroll College Softball team was filled with excitement, as the Fighting Saints (11-11, 6-6) picked up a pair of walk-off wins over in-state rivals Providence on Valley Bank Field at Nelson Stadium.

The Cardiac Queens of the diamond struck again on Wednesday, providing a roller coaster of emotions for Saints supporters in not one, but two thrilling walk-offs over the Argos (17-18, 9-5). Late game dramatics have become a staple of Carroll's new home, as Wednesday's wins marked the fifth game on the Nelson Stadium turf in which the Saints have either walked-off, or come from behind in the final two innings for a win this season.

GAME ONE: Carroll 4 - Providence 3

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For the first time in the last five seasons, the Fighting Saints were lifted to victory by a walk-off home run. 

While there have been numerous walk-off wins in the time span, no one had found a way to get one over the fence for the W... Until Taylor Sayers (Helena, Mont. / SO) stepped to the plate this afternoon.

Following a leadoff roped double into the gap in right center by Kati Slater (Yamhill, Ore. / SR) and a sac bunt by Madison Walker (Ridgefield, Wash. / JR), the stage was set for Sayers. 

On the first pitch of her fourth plate appearance, the sophomore etched her name in Nelson Stadium lore. Sayers blasted a no-doubt shot, deep down the line in left field, lifting Carroll from the clutches of defeat to the elation of yet another comeback win.

For much of the game, the need for the late-game heroics didn't appear necessary, as Carroll held Providence scoreless through five. Kennedy Venner (Billings, Mont. / SR) was called upon in the series opener as usual, and matched her season-high with 11 strikeouts. The senior went a complete seven innings, allowing three earned on just six hits, keeping the Argos under four runs for just the third time in Frontier Conference play this year to earn her fifth win.

Venner did her part early, striking out eight over a scoreless first five innings, while a leadoff walk and some small ball helped give the Saints an early 1-0 lead in the home half of the first. However, the Argos knotted things up with one run on a pair of hits in the sixth inning. An off-speed pitch from Venner sailed away with two outs and the leadoff runner on third, allowing Providence to even things up.

Carroll responded with one run on three hits in the bottom of the frame, as Sayers drew a full-count walk, followed by three-straight singles from Brooke Thompson (Billings, Mont. / JR), Sammie Labrum (Kalispell, Mont. / SR), and Tayelynn Puyleart (Meridian, Idaho / FR). The Saints would squander an opportunity to break the game open though, stranding three runners to carry a 1-0 lead into the seventh.

Providence took advantage of the opening in the top of the seventh, as Kassidy Yeoman drove in a pair on a sharp single straight down the left field line to give the Argos their first lead of the game with just one out in the final frame at 3-2.

Venner managed to create soft contact for pop-outs from the final two Argo batters to get out of the frame, and the rest was history.

Sayers was just 1-3 in the game, but came up with some much more important numbers in a game-high three RBI's and two runs. Sammie Labrum was spectacular at the plate all game, going 2-2 with a single and double while drawing a walk in her only other plate appearance.

GAME TWO: Carroll 3 - Providence 2

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One walk-off win is fun. Two walk-off wins is simply ridiculous. 

A walk-off homer is beyond exciting. A walk-off safety squeeze is legendary.

For the second time on the afternoon, Madison Walker found herself at the plate in the seventh inning with a bunt signal. Game one, she dropped a well-executed bunt to move the game-tying run over to third. Game two? She dropped a picture-perfect bunt in-between everyone to plate the winning run from third.

Kathryn Emmert (Helena, Mont. / SO), the second of Carroll's two former Montana Gatorade Players of the Year to take the circle, got the nod in the nightcap. The sophomore was outstanding, allowing contact with seven Providence hits, while limiting the Argos to just two runs en route to her fourth career win.

Providence dotted the scoreboard first, as Tiffany Fuentes followed up an Alix Bishop triple with a single of her own to give the Argos a 1-0 lead in the top of the second.

Sammie Labrum continued her strong showing at the plate in the bottom half of the frame, however, leading things off with another single. She scored two batters later on a fielder's choice paired with a throwing error to make things 1-1 after two.

Over the next four frames, Emmert limited Providence to just three total hits. Unfortunately for the Saints, Providence's Ashley Mitchell held them to just a pair of hits in the same span.

Tied at 1-1 still in the seventh inning, the Argos found a way to string together a couple of hits, taking the lead on a two-out single by Jaden Ruiz.

Ella Seaman (Belgrade, Mont. / SO), who owns a pair of Nelson Stadium walk-off hits of her own, led Carroll off in the bottom of the seventh with a bloop single into shallow right. Brynn Notbohm (Miles City, Mont. / SO) moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt.

Kati Slater came up with her second seventh inning double of the afternoon, scoring Seaman from second to level it up at 2-2, while keenly advancing to third on the long throw home from center field.

One perfectly-placed bunt later, and the Carroll dugout had reason to celebrate for the second time in as many hours.

Slater was terrific in the second-leg of the doubleheader, going 3-4 with one RBI and the game-winning run, while Labrum was hot on her heels with a 2-3 effort and one run of her own.

It will be a quick turnaround for the Saints, as they host Dakota State in a four-game series this weekend beginning with a 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Nelson Stadium.