EUGENE, Ore. – The Bushnell softball team won their second straight Cascade Conference game on Friday afternoon before settling for a split with the University of Providence in a double-header at Rich Schwab Field.
 
GAME ONE: Bushnell 2, Providence 0
 
Emily Cole (5-11) pitched a brilliant complete game as the Beacons earned their first shutout win of the season in the series opener. The junior allowed four hits and just one for extra bases while striking out six as the Argos had just two players in scoring position in the contest.
 
The Beacons, who also had just four hits of their own, got all the offense the needed in the bottom of the second when Ericka Allen scored on a triple from Haliday Hubbard (pictured). They went on to add an insurance run in the sixth as Allen reached base on one of UP's two errors, and Suzi Krstic came home.
 
Madi Moore finished the game with two hits for the Argos while Deven Creech (3-8) secured the victory in the circle striking out three and giving up one earned run in a complete game.  
 
GAME TWO: Providence 9, Bushnell 8
 
The Beacons lost a tough second game that saw an erratic pitching performance from the Argos Madi Moore (4-6). The senior was all over the place, allowing ten walks along with nine wild pitches. But when she was on, she was on, striking out 11 Bushnell batters and allowing just two hits for the victory.
 
Yes, the Beacons scored eight runs on just two hits with Providence committing three errors and wild pitches continually moving runners.
 
After giving up the first eight runs of the game in just three innings, the Beacons began to mount a comeback and had brought it to within 9-5 through five innings without the benefit of a single hit.
 
A bunt single by Hubbard opened up the sixth inning as Bushnell scored three more times to climb within a run and Bushnell had two batters in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh but weren't able to complete the rally.
 
Liz Hillier (2-11) took the loss for the Beacons. After giving up four runs in the first inning, she came out of the game, only to go back in during a four-run third for the Argos. She finished with five runs on seven hits in 1.2 innings. Cole had a nice performance to close it out, allowing just one run on two hits over the final four innings, striking out four to give her ten K's on the afternoon.
 
The Argos finished with 11 hits in the game including three from Moore and two from Ryen Palmer.
 
 
The Beacons (8-25, 2-15) will finish out the four-game series with the University of Providence (8-17, 6-11), on Saturday, beginning with the CCC series rubber match at 11:00 am. A non-conference game will immediately follow.