GREAT FALLS, Mont. – For the second straight day, #18 Corban University's offense simply proved to be too much for Lady Argo softball to handle. Despite fiddling with new defensive lineups and having a productive offensive performance in Game 2, UGF lost both games of the second straight doubleheader against the Warriors 10-1, 9-5.
 
The Lady Argos started Game 1 with a significant reshuffle of its standard defensive lineup. For a vast majority of the season, UGF's infield has been comprised of senior Jackie Thomas at first, junior Gabrielle Canibeyaz at second, junior Kylie Gonzales at third, and junior Mikaylee Jaussi at short.
 
This time, Thomas moved to short and Jaussi moved to second, while OF/C Bailey Henderson saw her first action at third and pitcher/1B Mikayla Deigan guarded first. Senior Kyra Dorvall also started her second game of the season in left field.
 
Statistically, the moves seemed to help. In the previous doubleheader against Corban, UGF committed 4 errors in Game 1 and 5 errors in Game 2. That number dropped to 2 errors in Game 1 with the new lineup.
 
Corban's Jessie Isham didn't seem to care much about who was in the infield, or the outfield. The junior made an instant impact in the top of the first inning, hitting a solo shot that would be the first of 3 home runs for her on the day.
 
After some small ball and UGF's first error led to 2 runs for Corban in the second inning, Isham struck again in the third to make the score 4-0. After that, UGF's starting pitcher, senior Shelby Abeyta, started to settle down.
 
Abeyta held the Warriors scoreless for the next three innings. During that time, UGF finally managed to get on the board, taking advantage of a Corban error in the fifth to bring senior catcher Jocelyn Kaufman home.
 
The run made the score 5-1 and with Abeyta looking strong, UGF appeared to hold the momentum, but it all fell apart in the top of the seventh.
 
The inning started with Corban's third home run of the game, though this one wasn't from Isham, and continued with 5 singles, 1 hit by pitch, and 1 walk. By the time all was said and done, Abeyta wasn't in the pitching circle anymore and the Lady Argos trailed 10-1.
 
That score would stand after UGF failed to score in the bottom of the inning.
 
Junior Kristian George started at pitcher for UGF in Game 2, and Gonzales and Canibeyaz returned to their usual positions, but the first inning of Game 2 felt exactly like the last inning of Game 1.
 
Corban rallied off 6 runs to start the game, using 6 singles and a leadoff triple to send UGF reeling before the team even got a chance to bat.
 
UGF did have a better luck against Corban's second pitcher, Allie Mendez, and equaled its Game 1 total in the first inning of Game 2 with an RBI single from Thomas that drove in Jaussi. The game then got interesting with a 5-run third inning for the Lady Argos.
 
Henderson led off the inning with a double up the middle and another RBI single from Thomas brought her home on the next at bat. A single from Gonzales and a walk for Deigan loaded the bases for Kaufman who hit into a fielder's choice that got Deigan out but brought in Thomas.
 
Freshman Hanna Tarum and senior Morgan Robinson then hit back-to-back RBI singles to pull UGF within 1 run of the Warriors. Jaussi reached base safely on an error which brought Henderson back to the plate with 2 outs and the bases loaded. The junior couldn't give UGF the lead, however, flying out to left.
 
Once again, UGF seemed to hold the momentum, but Isham was there to take it all away. In the top of the fourth, she hit her third home run, this time a 3 RBI shot to center that put team back up by 4 runs.
 
The Lady Argo had their chances to even the score, but left 2 runners on base in each of the last two innings. They finished the game with 10 LOB, the second straight day the team stranded 10 in Game 2.
 
With the losses, UGF is on a seven game losing streak and is now tied for last in the Cascade Collegiate Conference standings with a record of 11-18 (3-15). The team the Lady Argos are tied with will also be the team's next opponent, Northwest Christian University. UGF will take on the Beacons in Eugene, Oregon on April 14 & 15.