MISSOULA, Mont. - Due to weather conditions, the University of Providence Softball team hosted their last home series of the season at Grizzly Softball Field in Missoula, Montana. The Lady Argos offensive never slowed down throughout the day against Northwest Christian University, but defensive errors cost the team two games almost them three: UP 9, NCU 7 (Game 1), UP 4, NCU 11 (Game 2) and UP 5, NCU 8 (Game 3).
Three of UP's players were responsible for 4 home runs hit during the series. After going 1-2 in the three-game series, UP is now 6-22(4-15) and earned their fourth conference win of the season.
Game 1
Key Moments:
- Out hitting the Beacons 10-9 allowed the Lady Argos to compete back and forth to pull out a 9-7 win.
- The Lady Argos got on the board quickly after a leadoff walk from Bailey Henderson (SR/Fernley, Nev.) was turned into a run on a double from Kylie Gonzales (SR/Hubbard, Ore.) for a 1-0 lead.
- Northwest Christian tied up the game in the top of the third, but Gonzales proved what a power hitter she can be in the bottom of the inning, with a 2 run homer to left field.
- The Beacons took the lead for the first time of the game with 2 runs at the top of the third. Of those 2 runs, 1 came off of a leadoff homer, while the other was unearned on a UP fielding error. NCU followed that inning up with 3 more runs in the top of the fifth.
- The game's seesaw tilted back in the Argo's favor in the bottom of the fifth when Henderson cracked a leadoff home run to left.
- That brought the score to 6-3 and a single from Gabrielle Canibeyaz (SR/Las Vegas, Nev.) and an intentional walk of Gonzales put the tying runners on base. Next up to bat was Hanna Tarum (SO/Great Falls, Mont.) who brought in Gonzales and Canibeyaz on a double. Tarum advanced to third on the throw then gave UP a 7-6 lead on a sacrifice fly.
- With a 7-7 tie going into the bottom of the sixth, Karlie Southworth (SO/Lewiston, Mont.) came to the plate with runners on first and second. She ripped a double out to left field to ultimately give UP the win.
At the Plate:
- Kylie Gonzales led the way offensively going 2-2 with 3 runs, 3 RBIs, and 2 walks. She hit her third home run of the season and is now second on the team in RBIs with 14.
- Southworth only had 1 hit in the game, but it was the game winner, going 1-3 with 2 RBIs and 1 double.
- Two other Lady Argos were key contributors. Tarum went 1-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI while Canibeyaz went 2-4 and had 1 run.
In the Circle:
- Kristina George (SR/Salt Lake City, Utah) earned her fifth win of the season on senior day. She had a total of 5 strikeouts and 1 walk even after UP had a total of 4 errors.
Game 2
Key Moments:
- Offensively, the Beacons started off the game strong in the first inning by earning a 3-0 lead while UP was only able to narrow the gap by 1.
- With the next three innings scoreless, Northwest Christian went 4-4 at the top of the fifth to take a 7-1 lead.
- UP was finally able to get some offense going late in the sixth inning. A double from Southworth and an NCU error that let Karsten Williams (JR/Sandy, Utah) get on base set up a big moment for freshman McKenzie Staats (FR/Great Falls, Mont.). Staats crushed one to left center for her first collegiate home run.
At the Plate:
- Northwest Christian outhit UP 8-6 with 11 runs. Higbee and Jenkins led the Beacon's offensive each bringing in 3 RBIs.
- Henderson continued to prove her ability to lead the Lady Argo offense. Henderson hit her third home run of the season and went 1-3 with 1 run, 1 hit, and 1 RBI.
- Staats earned her first home run of her career in the bottom of the sixth to bring in 3 runs. She went 1-3 with 1 hit, 1 run, and 3 RBIs.
In the Circle:
- Though she took her fourth loss of the year, Ashton Bell (JR/Castle Dale, Utah) also pitched her first complete game as a Lady Argo.
Game 3
Key Moments:
- Getting a jump on the Lady Argos from the start, the Beacons earned all of their 8 runs in the first three innings. UP produced 3 of their 4 errors in those innings.
- Henderson continues to be a threat, particularly when leading off the game for UP. She singled down the left field line in the bottom of the first, and eventually scored on a single from Tarum.
- After two scoreless innings for UP, the bottom of the fourth brought 2 more home runs and narrowed the 8-1 gap to 8-5. The 2 homers came from familiar faces, with both Henderson and Staats hitting their second of the day. Both shots drove in a baserunner along with the batter.
At the Plate:
- Henderson finished off a solid day going 2-3 in Game 2. She finished the series hitting 5-9 with 6 runs, 4 RBIs, 2 HRs, and 2 walks. She now has a batting average of .429 on the year and leads the team in runs with 23.
- With almost identical stats from Game 2, Staats hit her second homer of her career. She went 1-3 with 1 hit, 1 run and drove in 2 runs.
In the Circle:
- KJ Schweikert (FR/Columbia Falls, Mont) started the game for the Lady Argos but after 8 runs scored by the Beacons in just 4 innings, George came into the game.
- George held Northwest Christian scoreless for the next three innings, only allowing 3 hits with had 1 strikeout.
Up Next: The Lady Argos will end the weekend with a doubleheader against Carroll College to finished out their 4-game series that has been postponed due to weather in Helena, Montana on Sunday, April 15 at 1 pm. & 3 p.m.
