MISSOULA, Mont, - The University of Providence softball team lost both conference games to Eastern Oregon University in the first two games (Game 1: 10-1, Game 2: 4-2) of a four-game series. As part of a rough start to the season, UP had to travel to a neutral site to host what was supposed to be a Cascade Collegiate Conference home series due to weather for the second straight weekend. 
 
EOU came out strong offensively, beating UP 10-1 win in the first game. Things looked up for the Lady Argos in Game 2, where they led the Mountaineers 2-0 until EOU tied it up in the fourth inning and then took the lead with another two runs in the fifth. 
 
GAME 1
 
Key Moments:
• EOU started off the game with 4 runs in the first inning. A lot of those were more a result of UP's mistakes, than the Mountaineer's good plays, with the Lady Argos walking 4 batters and committing 2 errors in the inning.
• A homerun from Karlie Southworth (SO/Lewiston, Mont.) was the only run for the Lady Argos in the second inning. That made the score 5-1 but it would prove to be UP's only run.
 
At the Plate:
• Southworth hit her second homer of the season in the second inning. She was by far UP's most effective hitter against EOU's Hailey Kline, going 2-2 at the plate.
• Hanna Tarum (SO/Great Falls, Mont.) and Kylie Gonzales (SR/Hubbard, Ore.) also contributed at the plate with 1 hit each.
 
In the Circle:
• Ashton Bell (JR/Castle Dale, Utah) started pitching for UP but couldn't handle the Mountaineers offense, letting up a 4-0 lead in the first inning. She lasted five innings total in the loss.
• Reliving Bell in the sixth was KJ Schweikert (FR/Columbia Falls, Mont.) who gave up 3 hits and 3 runs with only 1 walk.
 • UP's offense struggled throughout most of the game against EOU's Hailey Kline. Kline only allowed 4 hits and with 3 strikeouts, though one of those hits was a homer.
 
GAME 2
 
Key Moments:
• UP took an early lead in the bottom of the second with a nice string of plays. After Southworth hit a single, a sacrifice bunt from Bell and another single from Samantha Hernandez (FR/Los Angeles, Calif.) brought Southworth into scoring position. Shelby McMillen (FR/Park City, Mont,) completed the effort with an RBI ground out to bring in Southworth for a 1-0 lead.
• In the third inning, back-to-back doubles from Gabrielle Canibeyaz (SR/Las Vegas, Nev,) and Tarum brought Canibeyaz fully around the bases and gave the Lady Argos to a 2-0 lead.
EOU tied up the game in the fourth inning with a 2 RBI homerun from Rayne Spencer.
The Mountaineers took the lead over the Lady Argos in the top of the fifth, after an RBI double from Maryssa Sanit. Another run was scored on a throwing error by the Lady Argos.
 
At the Plate:
• McMillen's groundout in the second inning may not have been a hit for the freshman, but it was her first RBI of her collegiate career.
• Canibeyaz hit her second double of the season and sophomore Hanna Tarum brought her in with her first double of the year to bring a 2-0 lead over EOU.
 
In the Circle:
• Kristina George (SR/Salt Lake City, Utah) contained the Mountaineers offensive until the fourth inning and then she allowed 4 hits and 4 runs in two innings. Those hits were the only she allowed in the game after recovering nicely in the final two innings.
 • Eastern Oregon made a pitching change in the fourth inning, bringing in Ashton Kazmierski. Kazmierski only allowed UP 1 hit in four innings.
 
Up Next:
UP will face EOU on Sunday, March 18 for another doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. Live stats will be available at http://stabt.us/b/215980 for the 11 a.m. game and http://stabt.us/b/215981 for the 1 p.m.