MISSOULA, Mont. – The University of Providence softball team fell to the University of Montana in both games of the double-header on Saturday. The Argos (0-14, 0-9) fell to the Grizzlies (12-14, 0-0) 10-1 in the first game and 10-4 in the second game.
"We played a lot better than we have been," head coach
Joey Egan. "I'm proud of how we competed. They didn't score all their runs in one inning, they just kind of chipped away. We had runners on base a lot. We are competing. We never quit."
The Griz started the game extremely hot, scoring ten runs off of seven hits on the first game of the day. The lone run of the game for the Argos came from
McKenna Montgomery in the top of the second inning, when the sophomore from Fernley, Nevada homered to put the Argos on the board. In total the Argos generated three hits over the day.
Things improved for the squad in the second game. After finding themselves down 4-0,
Taylor Mathews doubled to right center, bringing two runners home. Mathews stole home to cut the lead to close out the top of the third inning.
The Griz scored four runs over the next two innings to make it 8-3 entering the fifth inning.
Karlie David got the Argos on the board in the top of the fifth inning, singling up the middle to bring
Ryen Palmer home. The squad generated two hits following the run but couldn't convert, leaving three runners stranded. The Griz scored two runs over the remainder of the game to take a 10-4 lead.
The Argos generated six hits in the second game, with David and
Gracie Fleming each getting two. Mathews recorded two RBIs while David added one.
"We played up to our competition today," Egan said. "Every game we've played this year we improved, but against this caliber they got better and better all the way through. From our pitchers to our hitters – all pieces of the puzzle improved. This really will help us as we prepare for conference play."
The team will return to the field next Friday as they begin a weekend series against Eastern Oregon. The first game will begin March 25 at 3:00 p.m.
