Jason Walker, University of Providence Sports Information
GREAT FALLS, Mont. - For the first time this season, the University of Providence softball team touched the green, green grass of home as the Argos split a doubleheader with Warner Pacific University Thursday afternoon in Cascade Collegiate Conference action.
Providence used nine hits and took advantage of three Knight errors to earn an 11-2 win in the second game of the day at the Multi-Sports Complex. Ryen Palmer's double in the bottom of the fifth scored both Makayla Hernandez and Karli David to give the Argos the run rule victory. Palmer (So., Great Falls, Mont.) saved her only hit of the game for the most opportune moment.
The Argos started the scoring in the bottom of the first after Taylor Mathews (Sr., Helena, Mont.) led off with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from David, moved to third on a sac fly by Macy Mangold before scoring on a wild pitch. Providence would score two runs in the bottom of the second, tallied a five-spot in the bottom of the third highlighted by a two-run single from Tiffany Fuentas (Fr., San Fernando, Calif.) and later scored when Mathews picked up a two-rbi single. The Argos tacked on a run in the fourth before Palmer's game-ending hit in the fifth.
Deven Creech (Jr., Billings, Mont.) battled through a bout of coughing to toss a complete game to earn her second win of the season. Creech allowed two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in improving to 2-5 overall. Mathews finished 3 for 4 at the plate with four RBI while six others each picked up a hit.
Ashley Hawkins led the Knights with a 2 for 3 effort at the plate with a double and a triple. Jordyn Rosario also went 2 for 3 in the game. Carrigan Foster picked up the loss allowing three runs on just two hits in two innings. Sammie Brauckmiller was tagged for eight runs on seven hits in 2.2 innings of relief.
In game one of the day, WPU scored four runs in the second and five runs in the final three innings to pick up a 10-2 run. Foster was brilliant tossing a complete game two-hitter while striking out eight. At the plate, the Knights were led by Hawkins, Rosario, Emma Foster, Jovita Laloulu and Christina Barrett who all had two hits. Barrett took Argo starter Carter Thornton deep into right field in the fifth scoring Lalo ulu as well. Karlie David and Azia-Rain Umphrey had the two Providence hits. Thorton gave up all 10 runs on 14 hits with five walks and three strikeouts.
The split left Providence with an overall record of 3-21 and a CCC mark of 2-15. WPU sits 2-23, 2-18 as the two teams battle again Friday in Great Falls. First pitch of the CCC series finale is set for 11 a.m. MDT with the nonconference game to follow. Fans can stream the games at www.upargos.com.