Bravettes, Wolfpack split softball doubleheader
<p>Mackenzie Twichel (24) runs off the field in celebration after the Bravettes victory over Glacier in the first game of a crosstown softball doubleheader at Conrad Complex Friday afternoon.</p>
<p>Glacier second baseman Katie McHugh fields a ball during the first game of a crosstown softball doubleheader at Conrad Complex Friday afternoon. </p>
One good shot made all the difference in Friday’s crosstown softball doubleheader.
Two Bravettes were aboard when Flathead’s Shayla Tweet came to the plate in the second inning.
Tweet worked a full count then sent one of those ‘no doubt’ type shots over the center-field fence.
“It was just gone. It really got us going,” Flathead coach Ashley Fusaro said of the hit.
“We were just trying to throw strikes. We were trying to throw a strike to play defense. She got ahold of one and it was a well-hit ball. She pounded it,” said Glacier coach Joel Bemis.
Flathead (2-6, 2-3) went on to win that game (the conference game) 5-2, but Glacier (2-9, 1-6), bounced back to claim the second game 12-0 in six innings.
Flathead’s win put an end to Glacier’s 14-game winning streak over the Bravettes.
“It felt good to get a conference win against Glacier under our belt. It’s been awhile. It feels pretty good. The girls were pretty excited, pretty pumped,” Fusaro said.
Tweet’s home run put Flathead up 4-0.
Glacier fought back, though, with runs in the top of the third and fifth innings.
“We had a hard time hitting against Sidney (Alberts). She kept us off balance. We couldn’t string together enough to get a lot of run support and put some runs on the board,” Bemis said.
“It seems like every game we get behind early and we have to play from behind. But we just kept battling. Even at the end, when it was 5-2, we had runners on base and we were trying to make a game of it. The girls don’t quit,” Bemis said.
Neither did the Bravettes.
“We just kept battling. We were focused all seven innings. Glacier is a great program. They kept fighting back, but we kept capitalizing on hits,” Fusaro said.
One of those was Mackenzie Twichel’s solo homer in the bottom of the fifth.
The second game was a totally different story — the Wolfpack racked up 15 hits, including doubles by Jena Willis and Hannah Atlee.
Willis was 4-for-4 and four others (Katie McHugh, Shayna Atlee, Tacey Howe and Taylor Riggles) were 2-for-4.
“I told them between games ‘what do you have to lose, ladies? Nothing. You have nothing to lose. Just play. Hit the ball like I know you can,’” Bemis said.
“We hit the ball the second game. I think we can hit any pitcher in the league like that ... if we think we can.
“I think our young kids are still trying to play with pressure. We try to give them pressure situations in practice all the time, but I think they’re still learning,” he added.
It was the exact opposite for the Bravettes in that game — they had just two baserunners advance as far as third base.
“I guess we were satisfied with just the conference win today,” Fusaro said.
“We didn’t get our bats going. I told the girls ... we can’t win with zero runs. It didn’t matter what the other team had, you still can’t win with zero runs. We didn’t make the adjustments to the pitcher,” she said.
Fusaro complimented the contribution by freshman pitcher Jenna Jensen in that second game.
Jensen came in in the second inning with Flathead already trailing 6-0.
“She pitched really well and hit the ball. She’s a freshman, stepping up. I’m really proud of her and the work she did today,” Fusaro said.
Flathead 5, Glacier 2
Glacier 001 010 0 — 2 7 2
Flathead 040 010 x — 5 10 2
Jena Willis and Hannah Atlee. Sidney Alberts and Kaylee Henderson. W — Alberts. L — Willis.
Glacier — Jena Willis 1-4, Brooke Wiley 0-1, Cassidy Mann 1-3, Katie McHugh 1-3, Shayna Atlee 1-3, Tacey Howe 0-3, Hannah Atlee 0-3, Kayla Russell 1-3, Maryssa Rogozynski 1-3, Taylor Riggles 1-3.
Flathead — Julia Morrow 2-4, Shayla Tweet 1-4, Taylor Twichel 3-4, Cassidy Smith 0-3, Sidney Alberts 1-3, Mackenzie Twichel 1-3, Adrienne Carroll 2-3, Kaylee Henderson 0-3, Iris Matulevich 0-3, Carson Dawson 0-3.
HR — Tweet, M.Twichel. RBI — Tweet 3, M. Twichel 1.
Glacier 12, Flathead 0
Glacier 600 015 — 12 15 1
Flathead 000 000 — 0 6 1
Shayna Atlee and Hannah Atlee. Carson Dawson, Jenna Jensen (2) and Kaylee Henderson. W — Atlee. L — Dawson.
Glacier — Willis 4-4, Kallie Evans 0-3, McHugh 2-4, S. Atlee 2-4, Howe 2-4, H. Atlee 1-4, Russell 1-4, Rogozynski 1-4, Riggles 2-4.
2B — Willis, H. Atlee. RBI — McHugh 1, Howe 1, Riggles 1.
Flathead — Morrow 2-3, Tweet 0-3, T. Twichel 1-3, Smith 0-3, Julie Dawson 0-3, Jensen 2-3, Carroll 1-3, C. Dawson 0-3, Henderson 0-2.