(Argo Athletics Media Release)
GREAT FALLS – Argo softball fell by run-rule to open their series against Carroll but rallied in the second contest to take a dominant 8-3 victory to split Friday’s doubleheader and take the series to a decisive game three on Saturday.
GAME ONE – University of Providence 0 – Carroll College 11
How it Happened: The Argos struggled to get anything going during the series opener as the Saints captured the 11-0 shutout. The Saints jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings as they tallied a run in the first before tacking on two more in the second. The Argos held the Saints to only one hit in the third to keep the game within three heading into the fourth inning. The Saints pushed their lead to five in the fourth with an RBI-double and an RBI-single to lead 5-0. The Argos couldn’t find an answer to Carroll as they broke things loose in the fifth inning. A fielder’s choice and an RBI-single extended Carroll’s lead to seven, 7-0 right before a pair of 2-RBI doubles brought four more around and extended the Saint’s lead to double-digits, 11-0. Providence tallied two hits in the bottom of the fifth, but the Argos stranded them both as the Saints would put things away to seal the game one victory, 11-0.
At the Plate: Taylor Mathews led the Argos in the No. 1 spot as she went 2-for-3 in the contest. Hanna Tarum, McKenzie Staats, and Samantha Hernandez also had hits in the series opener, going 1-for-2.
In the Circle: Hannah VanDomelen took the loss for the Argos, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing five runs on seven hits, and putting out three batters in the contest. KJ Schweikert would relieve VanDomelen, pitching the final 1.1 innings and allowing six runs on four hits and striking out one to close out the game.
GAME TWO – University of Providence 8 – Carroll College 3
How it Happened: The Argos completely turned things around in the second matchup to keep the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) series alive with the game two 8-3 victory. Brieanna Clifford faced the minimum at the top of the first to make a statement at the start of game two. Mathews got things going early for the Argos with a walk in the bottom of the first. A fielder’s choice would move Mathews to second, before a pair of one-out RBI-doubles from VanDomelen and Karlie Southworth would plate Mathews and immediately bring VanDomelen home to give the Argos a 2-0 lead. The Argos put one more across in the inning as an RBI-single from Tarum would push Southworth across to give the Argos a three-run lead after the first, 3-0. The Saints brought the deficit back down to two with a one-out sacrifice fly in the second, 3-1. However, the Saint’s momentum was short-lived as the Argos pushed their lead to a four-run advantage in the third with a lead-off single and a couple errors put VanDomelen in scoring position before a third error would bring her home, 4-1. A walk and an error from the pitcher would to give the Argos the 5-1 advantage, and then Providence would bring another run home in the fourth inning following a Nuebauer double and a wild pitch plated Mathews to give the Argos a 6-1 lead. The Saints started to get their momentum back in the fifth and the sixth as they tallied a run in each inning to bring the deficit back down to three, 6-3. However, the Argos wouldn’t let them get any closer than three. Karsten Williams doubled to open the sixth inning. A fielder’s choice would move Karsten to third, but a Nuebauer RBI-single would plate Williams and an RBI-double from VanDomelen would bring Nuebauer home and put the Argos eighth and final run across, 8-3, and sealed game two for the Argos.
At the Plate: VanDomelen was unstoppable, going 3-for-4 and tallying a pair of RBIs during game two. Tarum would also bring two home, while going 1-for-4. Nuebauer and Southworth also came up big for the Argos, going 2-for-4 and 1-for-3, both earning an RBI in the contest.
In the Circle: Brieanna Clifford grabbed the win for the Argos, pitching a complete game and only allowing three runs on eight hits. She would also tally three strikeouts in the contest.
Up Next
The Argos will look to take the series victory over Carroll tomorrow at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for senior day.
