SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – The Bushnell softball team was able to take a six-inning 9-1 victory from Carroll College on Friday afternoon, splitting a double-header and breaking a ten-game losing streak in the process.
 
GAME ONE: Carroll 6, Bushnell 1
 
Kennedy Venner (5-5) struck out nine Beacon batters and allowed just four hits while the Saints offense took advantage of multiple miscues to earn three unearned runs as they pulled out a 6-1 victory in the series opener.
 
Bushnell started off strong with a run off two hits in the bottom of the first. After Brooklyn Rondeau led off with a single up the middle, Ashlyn Martin soon brought her home on another come-backer for the 1-0 lead.
 
Carroll answered with fenceposts in the second, third, and fourth innings to go up 3-1 before tacking on a three-spot in the top of the seventh.
 
Emily Cole (2-7) went the distance for the Beacons in the circle, while Bushnell's four singles were scattered among four different hitters.
 
Morgan Sunchild finished the game hitting 3-for-4 for Carroll with a pair of RBI while Brookelynn Jackson hit an RBI triple.   
 
 
GAME TWO: Bushnell 9, Carroll 1 (6 innings)
 
Sara Martin (4-3) got the start for the Beacons in game two and had an incredible outing with just two hits allowed.

It was the Bushnell offense, however, that made the biggest difference, earning nine runs on eight hits. Leading 2-1 in a tight contest, Bushnell took advantage of a rough fifth inning for the Saints pitching staff. With two outs, Violet Richardson doubled to left field, Sara Martin singled to move her to third and Peeler walked to load the bases.
 
The next three batters also walked with the base loaded, scoring three runs and making it a 5-1 lead for the Beacons. Taylor Kenworthy followed with a two-run single, and another run scored on an error, putting the Beacons on the cusp of invoking the run-rule victory.
 
That would come in the bottom of the sixth as Sara Martin hit a one-out double and pinch-runner Marina Castaneda came home on a single from Riley Peeler, giving the Beacons their first conference win of the season.
 
UP NEXT: The Beacons (6-12, 1-7 CCC) will close out the series with Carroll (6-12, 3-5) on Saturday. The third conference meeting is scheduled for 11:00 am, with a non-conference fourth game to follow, weather permitting.