MISSOULA, Mont.   – For the first time since early March, the Northwest Christian University softball team picked up a series victory on Saturday, taking two wins from The University of Providence in a triple-header.  
 
Playing three hours away from their home turf due to snow in Great Falls, Providence took the opening game but couldn't handle the NCU offense as the Beacons took the final two to claim the series.
 
Alyssa Gayle had a strong day for the Beacons at the plate and in the circle, batting .461 with five RBI and three extra base hits while also securing both victories and striking out 12 batters.
 
The sophomore wasn't the only Beacon to provide fireworks at the dish. Five hitters were better than .333 at the plate, led by Avery Daniels who went 5-for-9 with four walks and five RBI and Jessica Garner who went 5-for-12 with four runs.
 
Game One: Providence 9, Northwest Christian 7
 
The teams combined for 19 hits in a slugfest that wouldn't be decided until the sixth inning. Tied 3-3 heading into the fifth, NCU took a 6-3 lead fueled by back-to-back doubles from Emma Jegtvig and Daniels.
 
The Argos responded, however, scoring four in the bottom of the fifth to take back a 7-6 lead. NCU answered once again, tying the game in the top of the sixth inning with an RBI double by Gayle that brought home Caitlyn Messman.
 
Providence went on to strike the final blow in the bottom of the sixth, on an RBI double from Karlie Southworth. Kristina George (5-9) got the victory as she went the distance for UP, allowing five earned runs while striking out five. Jegtvig (2-13) took the loss for the Beacons.
 
Daniels finished the game hitting 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIS and Gayle also earned a pair of runs batted in.
 
Game Two: Northwest Christian 11, Providence 4
 
The middle contest was never in doubt as the Beacons collected eight hits including four for extra bases en route to breaking a 17-game conference losing streak.
 
Providence got off to a rocky start in the first inning and were never able to recover as the Beacons scored three unearned runs behind two errors and a wild-pitch.
 
The Beacons made it a 7-1 game in the top of the fifth inning, highlighted by a three-run home run from sophomore Maya Jenkins, her first career dinger. Gayle followed in the sixth with a solo bomb, her CCC-leading ninth of the season.
 
Providence responded with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, but NCU in turn added three of their own in the top of the seventh as Daniels hit a sacrifice fly and Ereanna Higbee scored two runs with a single.
 
Gayle went the distance in the circle to get the victory, allowing three earned runs on six hits while striking out three. Ashton Bell (0-5) took the loss for the Argonauts.
 
Game Three: Northwest Christian 8, Providence 5
 
Gayle was at it again in the rubber match, striking out a career-high nine batters as the Beacons clung to victory after taking another early lead. The NCU offense pounded out 14 hits in the game, the eighth double-digit hit game of the season.
 
The Beacons scored two runs in the first, two in the second and four in the third to account for their scoring as they built an 8-1 lead. Providence tried to make a game of it in the bottom of the fourth as McKenzie Staats and Bailey Henderson  each slapped two-run home runs.
 
NCU buckled down the rest of the way, however, picking up the victory as they earned just their ninth error-free game of the season.
 
Gayle (4-8) struck out nine over seven innings, earning the complete game victory as she allowed five runs on nine hits. Gayle also collected three hits, as did Garner and Tra Kucera as the top three hitters in the lineup combined to hit .600 (9-for-15).
 
 
The Beacons return from Montana this week and will close out the 2018 home season on Friday and Saturday, taking on The College of Idaho. Senior Day festivities will take place between games on Saturday.