Jason Walker, University of Providence Sports Information 

MISSOULA, Mont. - The University of Providence hosted two home games that were held in Missoula, Mont., due to weather in the Electric City, and fell to the University of British Columbia 16-3 and 7-5 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play Friday.  

Snow this week and frozen fields at the multi-Sports Complex forced the Argos to travel for the second time this season for home games. Providence played Eastern Oregon in Caldwell, Idaho at the end of February and took to the turf field that is home to the University of Montana softball team.  

In the first game, Providence jumped out to a 2-0 lead after one inning thanks to a Gracie Fleming triple that plated Taylor Mathews and Karlie David. That lead was short-lived as the Thunderbirds scored five times in the top of the second. It was 8-3 UBC in the top of the sixth when errors hurt the Argos, leading to an eight-run frame to put the game out of reach. Keona Nordquist had four of the T-Birds 14 hits. Eight Argo errors did not help Providence.  

Carter Thornton (0-6) went the distance allowing all 16 runs with three strikeouts and three walks.  

In game two, UBC picked up where they left off scoring four runs in the top of the first and added three more in the in the fifth before the Argo offense came alive. In the bottom of the sixth, Providence scored five runs starting with a Fleming RBI groundout that scored Mathews, Ryen Palmer doubled to bring home David and Macy Mangold, Palmer would then score on an error by the catcher and another T-Bird error allowed MacKenzie Siegars to scamper home with the fifth run of the inning. Providence would get the tying runs in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh before Palmer grounded out to end the game.  

Palmer went 2 for 3 in game two with two RBI for Providence which accumulated eight hits in the second game after just four hits in game one. Mathews went 4 for 4 in the nightcap. Deven Creech took the loss tossing a complete game, allowing seven runs on eight hits, throwing 108 pitches. She struck out three and did not walk a batter, although she did hit three batters.  

Head coach Joey Egan was proud of the fight in game two, "They did not give up. The girls could have folded it in after game one and four runs in the first inning of game two but give our lineup credit. They took good at-bats late in the game and gave themselves a chance to win. 

"I know it does not show in the box score, but it was a heck of an effort." 

The same two teams will battle in Missoula again Saturday. The first game will count as a CCC (Cascade Collegiate Conference) game with game two being a non-league matchup. Providence (0-13, 0-8) will look for its first win of the season starting at 11 a.m. with the second game to follow at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available at www.upargos.com.