Softball: Flathead falls to Hellgate

Flathead banged out nine hits, which included home runs by Kaylee Henderson and Cassidy Smith and a double by Abbie O’Brien, and committed just two errors, but it still wasn’t enough as Missoula Hellgate rolled to a 13-4 Western AA softball victory over the Bravettes on Monday at the Conrad Complex.

Hellgate totaled 16 hits, including a home run by Talley Hill in the first inning. It was a two-run shot to left.

Hellgate scored in every inning but the fourth. Adessa Gagner went 4 for 5 for Hellgate and drove in three runs.

Hellgate led 12-0 when Flathead tallied four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Henderson homered to left center, a solo shot, in that inning and Smith followed two batters later with a three-run jolt to left.

It was Henderson’s fourth HR of the season and the second for Smith.

O’Brien doubled in the fifth. She was the lone Bravette to get two hits.

“We couldn’t get timely hits until the sixth inning,” Flathead coach Ashley Fusaro said.

“I was very pleased with our rally in the sixth.

“Our seniors had a really nice day overall on Senior Day,” Fusaro added.

“Lynsey Potter had an awesome catch in center and threw a girl out a home in the fifth inning.”

Playing their final home game of the season for Flathead were seniors Potter, Smith, Henderson, Iris Matulevich, Shayla Tweet and Kijrstjn Kruse.

Flathead (4-14 overall, 2-11 league) closes out regular-season play on Thursday with a doubleheader versus Glacier at Kidsports Complex. The first game is the conference outing and begins at 3 p.m.

Missoula 214 014 1 — 13 16 1

Flathead 000 004 0 — 4 9 2

Talley Hill and Sierrah Hardy; Kylee Beccari, Niea Sutton (7) and Kaylee Henderson. W — Hill. L — Beccari.

MISSOULA HELLGATE — McKenna Gagner 2-3, Adessa Gagner 4-5, Hill 3-5, Callie McKillop 2-4, Hardy 1-4, Frankie Needles 2-4, Rory Anderson 0-3, Ambria Elliott 2-4, Katie Pachard 0-4.

FLATHEAD — Abbie O’Brien 2-4, Iris Matulevich 1-3, Kaitlin Torgerson 1-4, Henderson 1-4, Lynsey Potter 1-3, Kylee Meredith 1-3, Cassidy Smith 1-3, Beccari 1-4, Shayla Tweet 0-2.

2B—O’Brien; HRs—Hill; Henderson, Smith; RBIs—A. Gagner (3), Hill (2), McKillop, Hardy, Needles (2), Anderson, Elliott (3); Henderson, Smith (3).