(Editor's Note: Carroll College media release)
HELENA -- The Carroll College softball team split its doubleheader with Warner Pacific on Friday, falling 5-3 in the series opener before bouncing back to win the second 2-1.
"To get the walk off win in the second game was a testament to our team," Saints coach Aaron Jackson said. "I thought we let one get away from us in game one. For us to rebound and fight to get the second win to set up an opportunity to win the series tomorrow is big time."
Game 1: The Saints (6-5, 2-3 CCC) jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the Knights (11-4, 3-1) rallied in the sixth to force an extra inning and then claimed a 5-3 win.
The Saints scored in the second inning when Jessica Nimmo singled. Kendall Mooney brought in another when she doubled.
The Knights got on the board in the fourth thanks to a Rebekah Roe home run.
Ali Williams added to the Saints' total in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly.
The Knights brought in two runs in the six after Devinne Amesquita doubled and Emma Foster hit a sacrifice fly.
Roe homered again in the eighth inning and then Amesquita hit a sacrifice fly to bring the Knights' lead up to 5-3.
The Saints got a runner on in the bottom of the eighth, but couldn't rally.
Ali Williams (2-2) had a big day on the mound, recording a school-record 15 strikeouts, but a few errant at-bats came back to bite her and the Saints.
Amber Brewer, Gaber and Williams each finished with two hits.
Game 2: Michaela Fetzer's walk-off double gave the Saints a 2-1 win.
"That was a big seventh inning," Jackson said. "A lead-off walk. A big stolen base by Brooke Yarnall. A big hit by Michaela Fetzer. A ball to the gap to win it. That kid has been vying for an opportunity and she took full advantage."
The Saints got off to a lead in the first inning when Gaber brought Yarnall home on a sacrifice fly.
Carroll held that 1-0 lead until the fifth inning when Meila Croydon's single scored the equalizer.
Then, Fetzer walked off the Knights.
Abby Hanley (3-1) got the win on the mound for the Saints. She threw a full game, striking out six batters while walking one and giving up one earned run.
"Abby in the circle did a phenomenal job, controlled the lineup all day," Jackson said. "The one run they scored was a manufactured run. Other than that, she threw a phenomenal game."
The Saints resume the series tomorrow against WPU at 11 a.m. at Centennial Park. A reminder: Game one of tomorrow's doubleheader will be the final game of the three-game conference series, while the fourth game will serve as a non-conference contest.
