College Softball: University of Great Falls splits
A number of parents were on hand for the University of Great Falls softball team’s Senior Day Saturday at the Multi-Sports Complex.
One surprise guest was Lenny Larson, father of the Lady Argonauts’ junior shortstop, Mindy.
The younger Larson ensured her father’s trip was worth the effort as she belted a fourth-inning grand slam that erased a 2-0 deficit and spearheaded UGF to a 6-2 win over visiting Carroll College in the second game of a Frontier Conference doubleheader.
“He surprised me and I surprised him,” Larson said. “I wasn’t expecting him to be here at all.”
Larson’s homer — her third of the season — helped the Lady Argos (24-16 overall, 4-2 conference) salvage the second game from Carroll (12-24, 2-4). The Saints took the opener 3-0 behind a two-hit shutout from pitcher Megan Gipe.
The grand slam came on a 3-1 offering from Carroll pitcher MacKenna Landis. Larson has driven in 30 runs this season — good for second on the team.
“I have just been trying to put my swing back together, and today I finally did that,” Larson said. “Lately I’ve been (struggling), but today I got out of that.”
Larson entered the game on an 0-for-8 skid. She emphatically ended that stretch, adding a double in Saturday’s second contest.
“Mindy was bound to break out at any moment,” UGF coach Joey Egan said. “It was nice to see her get up with the bases loaded and deliver.”
The Lady Argos added two more runs in the fifth on a wild pitch and an RBI single from Paige Bodner.
It was more than enough for UGF ace Keeley Van Blaricom, who allowed two unearned runs in the fourth inning while limiting the Saints to four hits and fanning seven in the complete-game performance.
“Keeley threw one of the better games she’s thrown in a while,” Egan said. “She didn’t hit well the first game, so to come out and pitch well the second game made me really proud of her. That shows a lot of mental toughness.”
Bodner and Larson each had two hits in the nightcap. The victory assuaged a disappointing loss in the opener.
Gipe fanned four and held the Lady Argos to a pair of singles from Renae Nelson and Regan Rucks to defeat UGF.
Gipe received all the support she needed when Allison Bayer hit a two-run home run down the left field line in the third. The Saints added another run in the fifth.
“She looked like she was hitting spots and throwing hard today,” Egan said of Gipe. “We couldn’t make adjustments. She had our number.”
The two teams conclude their respective regular seasons Sunday in a final doubleheader beginning at 1 at the Multi-Sports Complex. The Lady Argos head to Klamath Falls, Ore., next weekend for the Cascade/Frontier Conference Tournament.
Carroll 3, UGF 0
Carroll 002 010 0 -- 3 11 1
UGF 000 000 0 -- 0 2 0
Megan Gipe and Maddie Jones; Maureen Garcia, Shelby Abeyta (4) and Brittany Franklin. W: Gipe. L: Garcia.
Carroll: Paige Blake 0-3, Megan Gipe 1-4, Allison Bayer 1-4, Maddie Jones 3-4, Kinley Pope 3-3, Jaylin Kenney 1-4, Taylor Otswald 1-3, Jasyn Mulcahy 1-3, Kathryn Zink 3-0.
UGF: Renae Nelson 1-2, Chloe Cross 0-2, Alex Lwry 0-2, Keeley Van Blaricom 0-3, Regan Rucks 1-3, Mindy Larson 0-3, Brittany Franklin 0-3, Kayeley Lyons 0-2, Abby Ricco 0-2.
2B: Mulcahy, Pope. HR: Bayer.
RBIs: Bayer 2, Kenney
UGF 6, Carroll 2
Carroll 000 200 0 -- 2 4 0
UGF 000 420 x -- 6 11 2
MacKenna Landis and Jaylin Kenney; Kelsey Van Blaricom and Jocelyn Kaufman. S: Van Blaricom. L: Landis.
Carroll: Paige Blake 0-4, Justine Taylor 0-3, Allison Bayer 1-3, Kinley Pope 2-3, MacKenna Landis 0-3, Jaylin Kenney 1-3, Taylor Otswald 0-2, Kaydee Parsons 0-2, Kathryn Zink 0-3.
UGF: Renae Nelson 0-3, Mindy Larson 2-4, Alex Lowry 1-3, Keeley Van Blaricom 1-3, Kayeley Lyons 1-4, Regan Rucks 2-3, Brittany Franklin 2-3, Kylie Prough 2-3.
2B: Larson, Van Blaricom, Kenney. HR: Larson
RBIs: Kenney, Otswald, Nelson 4, Bodner.