MISSOULA, Mont. - A back and forth battle between the University of Providence and the University of British Columbia has split games for first doubleheaders of the series. After an eleven inning and giving up a 5-0 lead after the first inning, UP's Kristina George came out with a W after pitching the entire game. UP wasn't as fortunate in Game 2 after UBC's offensive came alive later in the game taking a 5-3 loss.

With the win in Game 1, the Lady Argos earn their second win of conference play. UP now has an overall record of 4-13 and is 2-8 in conference. A second win moves the Lady Argos up in the CCC rankings from being last to 9th place over Northwest Christian University.

Game 1
Key Moments:

• The Lady Argos came out with a bang in the first inning earning a 5-0 lead over UBC. With back-to-back singles starting from leading batter, Bailey Henderson (SR/Fernley, Nev.) to get on base followed by Gabrielle Canibeyaz (SR/Las Vegas, Nev.). With runners on first and second, Kylie Gonzales (SR/Hubbard, Ore.) got on base with a single but Henderson was out by fielders choice at third. Hanna Tarum (SO/Great Falls, Mont.) ripped one up the middle to make bases loaded for next batter, Karlie Southworth (SO/Lewiston, Mont.). Protecting the plate, Southworth was hit by a pitch to bring in Henderson for the 1-0 lead.
• Bases still loaded in the bottom of the first, An RBI from Karsten Williams(JR/Sandy, Utah) brought in Gonzales followed by a hard line hit from Hernandez to bring in another 2 runs now UP with 4 runs. McKenzie Staats (SO/Great Falls, Mont.) stepped up to the plate with runners on second and third and ripped one down the left side to earn her third RBI of the season, to give the Lady Argos a 5-0 lead.
• The Thunderbirds tied the game in the top of the fourth after being down 6-3. A UP error allowed UBC to get into scoring position with top batter Sydney Brown (SR/Langley, B.C.) next up to bat. Brown then hit her second triple of the season, bringing UBC down by 1. She then scored the tying run after Claire Eccles (JR/Surrey, B.C.) hit a single.
• Taking their only lead of the game in the top of the sixth, UBC scored on a throwing error for a 7-6 lead over UP. Lady Argos, however didn't let that affect the momentum of the game. Leading off in the bottom of the sixth Canibeyaz answered with a single to get on base. Gonzales stepped up to the plate slamming a homerun to bring the Lady Argos up 8-7.
• Battling back, the Thunderbirds then tied the game at the last second in the top of the 7th.
• After three scoreless innings, and tough defensive plays from both UBC and UP, the Lady Argos were back to the start of their batting line up in the bottom of the eleventh. With a single from Henderson, Canibeyaz and Gonzales moved Henderson into scoring position. Bringing in the game winning run was Tarum hitting a double up the middle to bring in Henderson for a 9-8 win over the Thunderbirds after 11 innings.

At the Plate:

• With 43 at bats, the Lady Argos outhit the Thunderbird's 14-9.
• Canibeyaz lead UP with the most hits (3) going 3-6 with 2 runs. She hit her 7 RBI of the season and is tied for most runs (13).
• Still leading the conference in batting average, Henderson went 2-5 with 1 run brining her average to .431.
• Gonzales hit her second homer of the season during the sixth inning. She went 2-5 with 2 hits and 2 RBIs.
• Coming up big when needed most, Tarum went 2-5 hitting a double to bring in the winning run. She had 1 run and 1 RBI and is second in batting average for the Lady Argos (.404).

In the Circle:

• An outstanding performance by Kristina George (SR/Salt Lake City, Utah) completing an eleven inning game with allowing 9 hits and 8 runs for the entire game. George only had three strikeouts but held her own after defensively UP had a total of 7 errors.
• George now has a record of 4-5 and still leads the pitching staff with the lowest ERA (4.01).

Game 2

Key Moments:

• UP outhit UBC 10-9 and earned an early 1-0 lead at the bottom of the first from a double by Hanna Tarum bringing in Kylie Gonzales.
• After the Thurderbirds gained a 5-1 lead during the top of the sixth, the Lady Argos tried to chip away at pitcher Emma Tuson (JR/Maple Ridge, B.C.). In the bottom of the sixth, Gonzales started off the inning with a double and advanced by a ground out from Hanna Tarum. Next up to bat was Karsten Williams hitting a single to score Gonazles for the only run of the inning.
• Heading into the bottom of the seventh, UP didn't roll over offensively. Staats started the inning with  a double and then advanced to third from a single from Canibeyaz. With an almost homer, but could out by Gonzales to give the Lady Argos the win, Gonzales had to settle for a single to bring in Stats, now down 5-3.

At the Plate:

• Gonzales lead the Lady Argos offensively going 3-4 with 2 runs and 1 RBI. Gonzales hit her 10 RBI of the season and is third on the team with most runs (12).
• Tarum went 1-3 with 1 RBI. She brought in the only run in the first inning for the Lady Argos bringing her 7 RBI of the season.
• Staats and Williams also played a big factor at the plate for UP. Staats went 2-3 with 1 run while Williams went 1-3.

In the Circle:

• Even though KJ Schweikert (FR/Columbia Falls, Mont.) is taking her third loss, she completed her first entire game of the season. Schweikert held the Thunderbirds until the top of the third inning where a rip up the middle from Sierra Sherritt (JR/Vancouver, B.C.) and RBI to bring in the tying run.
• She only allowed 9 hits and 5 with 3 strikeouts.

Up Next: The last two games of the series against University of British Columbia will be on Saturday, March 31 at 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. at Grizzly Softball Field in Missoula, Montana.