GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The Bushnell softball team let a golden opportunity for a CCC series sweep slip through their fingers as the University of Providence walked off a 7-6 win in the third game of the weekend with a three-run seventh. The Argos went on to take the non-conference fourth game as well.
GAME ONE: Providence 7, Bushnell 6
The Beacons (8-24, 3-15 CCC), currently trying to fight their way back into playoff contention in the Cascade Conference, need every win they can muster, but weren't able to complete the task in game three of the series.
Leading 6-4 as they headed to the bottom of the seventh inning,
Emma Fournier (0-4) was called out of the bullpen for the save opportunity. Unfortunately, the Argos muscled out three runs on four hits, ending the game on a walk-off RBI single from Olivia Roe
The Beacons took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a solo home run from starting pitcher
Sara Martin. They would make it 6-0 in the top of the fourth, scoring five runs highlighted by a two-run double from
Ashlyn Martin and RBI singles from
Sara Martin and
Brenna Wilson.
Providence (8-19, 4-14) climbed back into the game with two runs in the fifth, followed by two unearned runs in the sixth.
Martin had a strong outing in the circle, allowing just two earned runs over six innings while striking out three. Martin also led the Beacons at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Wilson added two hits.
GAME TWO: Providence 9, Bushnell 8
The Beacons had one of their biggest offensive juggernauts in recent memory in the non-conference game, punching four home runs which was the most in seven years.
Two of those bombs came off the bat of
Violet Richardson, giving her eight on the season which leads the Cascade Conference and ranks 16th in the NAIA. Richardson finished the game with three hits while
Taylor Kenworthy,
Ashlyn Martin, and Wilson added two hits apiece. Martin and Wilson each had the other home runs for the Beacons.
The offense wasn't able to be matched in the circle as starter
Alexis Perez (0-2) was tagged for seven earned runs on eight hits over the first four innings.
Emily Cole, however, continues to prove to be one of the most reliable pitchers in the conference as a starter or out of the bullpen as she threw two perfect innings to close out the game, striking out five batters.
UP NEXT: Bushnell will remain on the road next weekend, traveling to Salem to take on Corban University (2-31, 1-17). The Warriors come in on the heels of a massive upset, having knocked off No. 1-ranked Southern Oregon University on Saturday.
