GREAT FALLS, Mont. – What was a potent Lady Argo offense in Game 1, quickly cooled in Game 2 leading to UGF's first loss in the last nine contests, splitting with The College of Idaho 8-3 UGF, and 4-2 CI.
An onslaught of run support for UGF in the middle of innings of Game 1 helped senior pitcher Keeley Van Blaricom (6) earn her eighth win and ninth complete game with a six hit effort over seven innings.
While the end result was good, the start was shaky. The first Coyote batter singled to right field and scored three batters later for an early C of I lead. The senior then settled down in the next two innings, giving the UGF bats time to wake up.
And wake up they did in the bottom of the 3rd, starting with a leadoff single from senior Chloe Cross (3). A double from the team's RBI leader (15 RBIs) Alex Lowry (14) moved Cross over to third and Van Blaricom was then intentionally walked to load the bases.
Things then started to unravel a bit for the Yotes with a hit by pitch and an error bringing in two Lady Argo runs. Junior Alissa Keeler (13) drove in two more with a center to make the score 5-1 before C of I got the next three batter out to end the inning.
Despite a two run top of the fourth for the Yotes, Van Blaricom wouldn't need any more help to extend UGF's win streak to eight games. She received more help any. A two RBI double in the bottom of the 4th from junior Hali Gruntowicz (19) and a wild pitch in the 6th to bring Mindy Larson (4) home from third extended the lead to 8-3.
After Van Blaricom finished off the Yotes in the top of 7th, junior Shelby Abeyta started right were Van Blaricom left off, pitching four scoreless inning with just two hits. Her efforts weren't pared with the same UGF scoring as Game 1, however, as UGF managed just one run off of C of I's Ashley Pesek. That run was an RBI single from Lowry that drove in Cross.
One run wasn't enough of a lead. The Yotes started to get the best of Abeyta in the top of the 5th. An RBI double and a passed ball brought in two College of Idaho runs. Another was earned in the 6th and another in 7th to put UGF into a three run hole entering the bottom of the 7th.
A double from senior Abby Ricco (31) gave hope for a UGF comeback. Larson came in to pinch run for Ricco and she was brought home with the next at bat, a single to left field by junior Haley Swan (27). With one out and the tying run at the plate, the comeback hopes were set to swing dramatically on Jocelyn Kaufman's at bat. Her fly out to the catcher made a last inning rally possible but unlikely. The hopes were completely dashed with a Cross ground out that ended the game.
With the split against C of I and two losses for Eastern Oregon University against Carroll College, the Lady Argos are in a three way tie for first place in the Cascade Collegiate Conference East Division with a record of 16-10 (10-6/3-3). The loss to the Yotes ends an eight game UGF winning streak but the Lady Argos will look to start another such run with a home doubleheader against EOU on Saturday, April 9. The games, which start at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. are also senior day for UGF as they send off a class of nine graduating players.
