Box Score 1 Jason Walker, University of Providence Sports Information
GREAT FALLS, Mont. - For the first time this season, the University of Providence softball team took a best of three series from an opponent after the Argos scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a bases-loaded walk off error off the bat of Macy Mangold and the Argos defeated Carroll College 3-2 in game one of a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon in Great Falls.
Mangold hit a rocket to Saints third baseman Alyssa Lybbert who could not field the ball cleanly as Taylor Mathews scampered home with the winning and series clinching run.
Each team scored in the fourth inning as Carroll's Kaitlyn Ayers launched a solo home run in the top half of the inning. Mangold tied things up in the bottom of the inning as she drove in Karlie David after an error by the left fielder. The Saints regained the lead in the top of the fifth pulling off a double steal that scored Kenna Thomas. The Argos answered right back with Azia Umphrey going deep to tie the game at two. That score remained until Mangold drove in Mathews in the eighth.
Mangold finished with two RBI while Umphrey added a single to go along with her game-tying homer. Carter Thornton pitched a complete game five hitter striking out six to get the victory. The Argos won the Cascade Conference series two games to one after the two teams split the first two games in Helena two weeks ago.
Game two of the day, a nonconference game, saw Carroll score twice in the top of the ninth and hold off an Argo rally to get a 4-3 win. Sydnee Paul, Haylee Curry, and Sammie Labrum each had three hits for the Saints.
Karlie David hit a home run to give Providence a 1-0 lead after the first inning, Mathews added a sacrifice fly in the fifth. The game stayed tied at 2-2 into the ninth when Curry singled to score one run and Labrum followed reaching first on an error scoring Curry.
Ashlyn Lamping singled to center to score Kolbi Wood cutting the deficit to 4-3 but that would be as close as the Argos would get. Deven Creech tossed the complete game, picking up the loss, allowing four runs on eleven hits with five strikeouts. Anika Bjornson picked up the win for the Saints going the distance, giving up seven hits with 13 k's.
The Argos (8-30, 4-23) continue a season-ending home stand hosting Corban University (Ore.) Thursday and Friday in Great Falls.
