HELENA, Mont. - Carroll drove home 11 runs in the fifth and sixth innings of Friday's twinbill against the Eastern Oregon University softball team, and the late flurries ultimately doomed the Mountaineers in the sweep.   

GAME ONE

CARROLL 5, EOU 1

In game one, the Mountaineers were confined to only two hits, and the Saints pulled away

with four runs in the final two innings to snag a 5-1 victory.

Junior right fielder Cheyenne Barker belted a solo homer to tie the game at one apiece, while

junior designated player Lauren Burchak mustered the only other hit.

In the circle, sophomore pitcher Hailey Kline compiled three strikeouts in the losing effort.

Carroll plated its first run of the game in the opening stanza, as Tianna Sell smacked an RBI triple to right field.

Megan Gipe rode a no-hitter until the fourth frame when Barker launched a solo bomb on a 1-1 count, but the Saints regained the edge with three runs in the following stanza.

Trailing 5-1 in the seventh, Barker drew a walk to open the frame, and then Burchak followed with

a single to center field. With two runners on and one out, Carroll forced a double play to end the affair after a lineout turned into two with a forceout at first base.

GAME TWO

CARROLL 7, EOU 4

Despite taking an early 4-0 lead thanks to a grand slam by Barker, Carroll rallied with seven runs in the fifth and sixth innings to steal game two, 7-4.

In addition to Barker's second homer of the afternoon, senior shortstop Haley Hess tallied two of the Mountaineers' seven hits.

Junior pitcher Haylie Van Laethem tossed five strikeouts and held the Saints to one hit in the opening four stanzas before the seven-run burst.

Junior catcher Alex Shuster opened the third with a single to left field, Hess belted a single to center, and then junior left fielder Taylor Turner juiced the bases with a bunt single. That's when Barker delivered the grand slam after connecting on the first pitch, and EOU held that lead until the sixth stanza.

Although Van Laethem collected two quick outs to start the sixth, the Saints launched five-straight singles and tacked on four more runs to snag a 7-4 advantage.

EOU (20-18, 9-7 CCC) left one runner stranded in the seventh, and Carroll avenged its two losses to the Mountaineers earlier this season.

GAME BALL GOES TO...
Barker - The junior outfielder launched two homers in the losses, including a grand slam in game two.

UP NEXT

EOU returns to the diamond tomorrow at Great Falls. First pitch in game one is set for 11 a.m. MT.