HELENA, Mont. – The Bushnell softball team closed out the 2023 season on Saturday, losing a pair of games to Carroll College as the Saints clinched the final berth in the Cascade Collegiate Conference tournament.  
 
The Saints (20-26, 13-17 CCC) finished the regular-season in sixth place and ended up with a one game margin over Northwest University. The Beacons (11-37, 7-23) claim ninth-place in the Cascade Conference.
 
GAME ONE: Carroll College 5, Bushnell 4
 
After rallying to take a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth inning, the Beacons were unable to hang on as the Saints answered with two runs in the bottom frame. They sealed the win by striking out the side in the seventh.
 
Senior Sam Silver (6-17) finished off her career with a complete game, striking out two batters and allowing seven hits.
 
Bushnell also collected seven hits in the contest, led by two from Hannah Tennant. Madison Steelman added a double.
 
GAME TWO: Carroll 8, Bushnell 0 (Six Innings)
 
The Saints earned a walk-off victory in the night cap, scoring their final two runs in the bottom of the sixth-inning on an RBI triple, followed by a sacrifice fly to invoke the collegiate run-rule.
 
They had done most of their damage in the fourth inning, taking advantage of a error to produce six unearned runs.
 
Junior Liz Hillier (5-17) took the loss for the Beacons, but did not allow an earned run, giving up three hits in 3.2 innings.