By The Carroll College Softball team went one-for-two in today’s doubleheader with the University of Providence on Monday afternoon in Helena, winning game one 9-1 in five innings, while dropping game two, 3-4.
The Fighting Saints (14-18, 10-10) managed to tread water in Cascade Collegiate Conference play on Monday, beating Providence (5-23, 3-17) in the opener, but falling in game two.
Carroll got things rolling early in the first game. A Kirsten Norris (Phoenix, Ariz. / SR) double scored one, and an Annie Davidson (Boise, Idaho / SR) single drove in another to give Carroll the 2-0 lead after one.
Alyssa Lybbert (Las Vegas, Nev. / SO) drove in one run with a single in the second inning to put the Saints on top 3-0.
Providence got one run back in the top of the fourth with Gracie Fleming providing an RBI single to bring the Argos within two, 3-1.
The Saints would respond with a big bottom half of the fourth. Amber Countryman (Helena, Mont. / SO) doubled to score one run, and then managed to cross home plate herself a couple of batters later to put Carroll up 5-1. Kirsten Norris added another RBI double, and the Saints would lead 6-1 heading into the sixth.
Countryman added another RBi double in the fifth, and Jessica Nimmo (Las Vegas, Nev. / SR) brought her home with an RBI triple. Amber Brewer provided a sac fly to straightaway center field, allowing Nimmo to score and give Carroll the 9-1 run rule win.
Abby Hanley (Las Vegas, Nev. / SR) picked up the complete game win, allowing just three hits and picking up five strikeouts.
It was Providence who struck first in the second game. Azia Umphrey doubled to score one and give the Argos a 1-0 lead after the top half of the first frame.
An error in the bottom half of the first inning gave Carroll the lead. A missed play at first base allowed Brewer and Nimmo to cross the plate and Carroll would finish the first inning with a 2-1 lead.
The sixth inning would spell trouble for the Saints. Karlie David picked up an RBI single to tie things at 2-2, before Deven Creech knocked in two runs on a double to give the Argos the 4-2 lead.
Countryman continued her strong day in the bottom of the sixth, picking up another RBI single to bring Carroll within one, 3-4, but Carroll would be unable to complete the comeback, falling in seven innings.
Carroll will now turn their attention towards a home series with No. 5 Southern Oregon this weekend, with games on Friday and Saturday.
Visit www.carrollathletics.com for a preview of that series, and to stay up to date with everything going on in Carroll Athletics.
