SURREY, Canada – Argo softball (4-13, 4-9) fell in the series opener but took the second matchup of the day to split their doubleheader on Friday against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds (10-12, 7-7 CCC).
 
GAME ONE – University of Providence 1 – University of British Columbia 3
How it Happened: The Argos got things going in the second inning. Karlie Southworth opened the inning with a triple. Karsten Williams would knock an RBI-bunt to plate Southworth and beat the throw to get on base. The Thunderbirds tallied three straight outs to close the inning, 1-0.
 
British Columbia would tie things up in the bottom of the second as a walk, a sacrifice-bunt, and a wild pitch would put one through for the Thunderbirds, 1-1.
 
The game remained would remain knotted at one all until the Thunderbirds found more success in the bottom of the sixth. The Thunderbirds would tally a single, but a fielder's choice would put out the lead runner for the Thunderbirds. A single and a walk would load the bases for British Columbia, before a two-out Argo error would plate two runners to give the Thunderbirds a 3-1 advantage. The Argos would close out the inning with a final out to prevent more damage.
 
The Argos couldn't get anything going in the final half-inning as their batters would go out in order and the Thunderbirds would take the series opener, 3-1.
 
At the Plate: Karlie Southworth led the Argos, going 2-for-3 with a run, while Hanna Tarum and Shayla Cole would tally the Argos other two hits. Karsten Williams tallied the Argos solo RBI of the game.
 
In the Circle: Brieanna Clifford pitched a complete game, going six innings and allowing only three runs on five hits. She would also put out five.
 
GAME TWO – University of Providence 6 – University of British Columbia 5
How it Happened: The Thunderbirds got on the board first during the second matchup of the doubleheader in the bottom of the first. A pair of singles pushed the Thunderbirds' lead-off batter to second, before a fly-out and an Argo throwing error would plate their first run of the contest, 1-0. Another error of a wild pitch would push one more through for British Columbia to give them a 2-0 advantage after one.
 
The Argos broke things loose in the second inning. Following a lead-off walk from Tarum, a sacrifice-bunt would advance Tarum to third and put her in scoring position. Karsten Williams would knock a one-out RBI-double to plate Tarum and cut the deficit in half, 2-1. A one-out single and a Thunderbird error would tie things up for the Argos at two, 2-2. Another pair of errors would bring Staats home as the Argos would take their first lead of the game, 3-2. The Argos kept things rolling with another one-out RBI-double to push their lead to two, 4-2. The Thunderbirds would put another one away on a fielder's choice, but the Argos would plate two more on a two-out RBI-single to take a 6-2 lead after the second inning.
 
Following a lead-off out, the Thunderbirds would get one aboard before a fielder's choice would swap runners and tally the Argos second out. British Columbia would combine a two-out single and a hit by pitch to load the bases. The Thunderbirds would then knock a two-out 2 RBI-double to start their comeback and bring the deficit down to two, 6-4.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, the Argos would put out the Thunderbirds lead-off batter before they would put one aboard on a walk. The Argos would tally another out, but a single and a fielding error would put another one across for the Thunderbirds to bring British Columbia within one, 6-5.
 
However, the Argos locked in on defense as they wouldn't allow another hit for the Thunderbirds to eventually close out the contest and take the 6-5 victory.
 
At the Plate: McKenzie Staats led the Argos in the contest, going 2-for-4 with a run. Taylor Mathews knocked two across as she went 1-for-4 to tally the pair of RBIs. Karsten Williams and Skyla Nuebauer tallied the other two RBIs for the Argos.
 
In the Circle: Hannah VanDomelen secured the win for the Argos, pitching a complete game and allowing 5 runs on six hits. She was dominant over the final three innings as she didn't allow a hit to close out the game and secure the victory.
 
Up Next
The Argos will close out their series in Surrey with a Saturday doubleheader starting at noon, followed by the series finale first pitch at 2 p.m.