Softball: Glacier slips by C-Falls

Tacey Howe’s sacrifice fly to left field scored Anna Jenks in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving Glacier a 2-1 victory over Columbia Falls in a nonconference softball outing on Monday at Kidsports Complex.

Jenks led off the inning with an infield single, stole second and moved to third on a fielder’s choice by Katie McHugh.

Glacier scored in the bottom of the first inning on a solo home run by leadoff hitter Taylor Riggles. It was her third blast of the season.

“We’ve been challenging our hitters to give us that early spark,” Glacier coach Andy Fors said.

“Trying to see if we could be a little more aggressive in the batter’s box.”

He said Riggles responded in fine fashion.

Howe had the team’s other hit.

Tiffany Hummer singled in Madi Fetters in the top of the third with one out for Columbia Falls’ lone run of the game.

Both pitchers were at their best.

Ashley Trueblood held Glacier to three hits while striking out six.

Ali Williams struck out 11 Columbia Falls hitters while scattering four singles.

“It was back and forth between the both of them,” Fors said of Trueblood and Williams.

“They did a nice job.

“Trueblood kept our batters off balance,” he continued.

“I was really impressed with her.

“That was one of the better performances we’ve seen from Ali all season long. She was pretty dominant.”

Glacier wraps up regular-season play on Thursday hosting Flathead at Kidsports Complex. The first game of the doubleheader begins at 3 p.m. and is the conference matchup.

Columbia Falls 001 000 0 — 1 4 1

Glacier 100 000 1 — 2 3 2

Ashley Trueblood and Courtney Murray; Ali Williams and Hannah Atlee. W — Williams. L — Trueblood.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Winter Kemppainen 0-3, Madi Fetters 1-3, Murray 0-3, Tiffany Hummer 1-3, Trueblood 1-3, Carlee Brown 0-2, Amanda Morrison 1-3, Fields 0-2, Brianna Friar 0-1, Aliylshi Cantu 0-2.

GLACIER — Taylor Riggles 1-3, Kayla Russell 0-3, Christina DuFour 0-3, Williams 0-2, Atlee 0-2, Anna Jenks 1-3, Ali Newton 0-1, Katie McHugh 0-2, Tacey Howe 1-2, Mackenzie Brester-Knight 0-2.

HRs—Riggles; RBIs—Hummer; Riggles, Howe.