MISSOULA, Mont. - After a solid 11-inning performance for a 9-8 win in the first game of the series over the University of British Columbia, the University of Providence's
Kristina George came back better than ever to pitch her first no-hitter of the season in a 5-0 conference win. George was backed up by a strong UP defense which only allowed 1 error. In the last game of the series, the Thunderbirds earned an early lead forcing the Lady Argos to play catch up the entire game and resulting in a 3-2 loss.
With two wins over the weekend, UP is now 3-9 in conference with an overall record of 5-14. After moving up in the CCC rankings from splitting the previous day's doubleheaders against the Thunderbirds, the Lady Argos will be locked into 9th place for the upcoming weekend.
Game 1
Key Moments:
- After three and a half scoreless innings, UP put the bat into action at the bottom of the fourth. The rally started with Karlie Southworth (SO/Lewiston, Mont.) hitting a single into left field and then advancing to second on a base from a bunt by Karsten Williams (JR/Sandy, Utah). A sacrifice bunt from Hernandez moved both runners into scoring position. McKenzie Staats (FR/Great Falls, Mont.) then loaded the bases off of an error by the UBC pitcher on another bunt.
- With bases load and only 1 out, a failed pick off at first base from the Thunderbirds, allowed Southworth just enough time to steal home to put the Lady Argos on the board with 1-0 lead. UP loaded the based again after Bailey Henderson (SR/Fernley, Nev.) earned a walk. Next up to bat for the Lady Argos, was Gabrielle Canibeyaz (SR/Las Vegas, Nev.) who ripped one out to left field for a double that brought in 3 runs.
- UP didn't stop after taking a 4-0 lead. Hanna Tarum (SO/Great Falls, Mont.) started off the bottom of the fifth inning with a double that forcing UBC to make a pitching change. The pitching change didn't make much of a different with Southworth next up to bat. She hit one out to right field giving Tarum enough time to round second and read third safely. With Tarum and Southworth in scoring positions, Williams continued the rally with a single up the middle to bring in Tarum for a 5-0 lead.
At the Plate:
- Canibeyaz's double gave the second baseman a game leading 3 RBIs on 2-4 batting while taking over the leadoff spot in a reshuffled batting order. Her season total improved to 15 RBIs and she has now hit eighth double of the season. She now ranks 41st in the NAIA for doubles per game (.412).
- With a bunt and a single, Williams went 2-3 with 1 RBI. Williams now has a total of 6 RBIs in the season.
- Southworth didn't let a rough start to the series phase her and came back to form for UP. She went 2-2 and earned 1 run and scoring the first run of the game by stealing home.
In the Circle:
- Despite some good batting performances, the star of the game was pitcher Kristina George (SR/Salt Lake City, Utah.) after earning her fifth win of the season and first no-hitter. George had 5 strikeouts and no walks while facing 22 batter, the only runner on base was hit by a pitch early in third inning.
Game 2
Key Moments:
- A rough start for the Lady Argos in Game 2 allowed the Thunderbirds to score all 3 of team's runs in the first inning. A lot of those runs came easy too, with the first four batters of the game reaching base safely on either walks or wild pitches.
- Trying to steal the momentum of the game, with the Thunderbirds leading by three, Canibeyaz, Kylie Gonzales (SR/Hubbard, Ore.), and Tarum each took walks of their own to load the bases. Shelby McMillen (FR/Park City, Mont.) came in to DH for Southworth and reached first by an error that also allowed Canibeyaz to score.
- At the bottom of the fifth, the Lady Argos tried to narrow the gap. After Henderson got on base from a walk, Gonzales hit a single out into left field. The two then each advanced a base on a passed ball to put runners on second and third for Tarum. Tarum hit an RBI groundout to bring in Henderson from third on the throw, and pull UP within 1 run.
At the Plate:
- Back in her usual leadoff spot, Henderson led UP at the plate going 1-3 with 1 hit, 1 run, and 1 walk. She leads the team with a .526 slugging and .493 on-base percentage.
- Gonzales and Tarum both went 1-2. Tarum is now tied for the best batting average on the team (.404) and hit her 8th RBI of the season.
In the Circle:
- After starting Ashton Bell (JR/Castle Dale, Utah) UP made a pitching change at the top of the second that made a big difference. KJ Schweikert (FR/Columbia Falls, Mont.) followed George's success from Game 1, only allowing 3 hits and 0 runs while facing 20 batters.
Up Next:
The Lady Argos will head to Salem, Oregon next weekend to face Corban University in a 4-game series. Games will start on Friday, April 7 at 3:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m. and resume on Saturday, April 8 at 12:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m.
