MISSOULA, Mont. – Argo softball (7-26) dropped a pair of contests to the Montana Griz (18-29) on Monday at Grizzly Softball Field.
 
GAME ONE – University of Providence 2 – University of Montana 12
How it Happened: Taylor Mathews opened things up for the Argos with a no-out single, but a pair of strikeouts and a pop-out would leave her stranded to close out the first. The Griz tallied four singles to plate six runners on the four hits to capture an early lead in the contest, 6-0. Montana added to their lead in the third as they would bring around another six base-runners on five hits to double their advantage to 12. The Argos produced a two-out double in the fourth, but it wasn't until the fifth that the Argos would begin to come back. Sam Hernandez led off the inning with a full-count walk to get aboard first. Following a ground out, Providence would chain a pair of singles from Skyla Nuebauer and Karlie Southworth to bring Hernandez across, 12-1, and turn the tide a little. A sacrifice fly from Hanna Tarum would bring Nuebauer home as well, cutting the lead back down to 10, but the Argos' rally ultimately fell short as a final ground-out would close out the contest by run-rule, 12-2.
 
At the Plate: Nuebauer and Southworth led the Argos at the plate, going 2-for-3 each, with Southworth knocking an RBI. Tarum tallied the Argos other RBI of the contest on a sacrifice fly. Mathews and K. Williams tallied the other two hits.
 
In the Circle: KJ Schweikert (0-6) took the loss, pitching four innings and allowing 12 runs on nine hits, while tallying a strikeout as well.
 
GAME TWO – University of Providence 2 – University of Montana 10
How it Happened: The second contest of the doubleheader started off completely differently as the Argos turned things around to capture the lead early. Nuebauer knocked a one-out single, before advancing to second on a Griz error that would place Southworth on first by fielder's choice. Karsten Williams singled to right field to bring Nuebauer home, giving the Argos a 1-0 lead. Olivia Warren got aboard on a Montana fielding error that would also plate Southworth to push the Argos lead to two, 2-0, with only one out, but a strikeout and a ground-out closed out the inning. Providence would hold Montana to a single hit in the bottom of the frame to maintain their two-point lead headed into the second inning. However, the Griz got things going in the bottom of the second as a 3-RBI triple would give Montana the advantage, 3-2, before an RBI-single would put the Griz up by two, 4-2. Montana added a couple more in the bottom of the third on an RBI-double and an Argo fielding error, 6-2. The Argos continued to struggle offensively as they only captured one hit in the fourth and the fifth. An RBI-single and an Argo error brought two more across for the Griz, before an RBI-double would extend the Griz's lead to seven, 9-2, after five. The Griz would notch one final run in the bottom of the frame on an Argo error to take the game two victory by run-rule, 10-2.
 
At the Plate: Nuebauer was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 and tallying a run in the contest. J. Williams knocked the other hit for the Argo and combined with Warren to tally the pair of RBIs.
 
In the Circle: Jaden Williams (0-1) opened the contest for the Argos, allowing four runs on four hits in 1.2 innings pitched. Khalyn Hageness replaced Williams and threw for 3.2 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits to close out the contest.
 
Up Next
The Argos will host their final series of the regular season against the Carroll College Saints on April 26 and 27.