Glacier trips Sentinel, falls to Big Sky in softball

MISSOULA — Glacier kicked off its softball season with a pair of Western AA conference games on Tuesday night, downing Missoula Sentinel before dropping a game to Missoula Big Sky.

In the Wolfpack’s 4-3 win over Sentinel, Maddie Johnson knotted the game at 2-all with a two-run home run in the fourth inning, and Allee Meyer gave Glacier a lasting lead with a two-run double in the fifth inning.

The Spartans clawed back for a run in the sixth inning, but sophomore Sage Vanterpool held the Sentinel attack at bay in the seventh to nix a potential rally.

“Our girls rally came out of the gate clean,” first-year Glacier coach Abby Connolly said. “They did a great job.

“Sage Vanterpool pitched a great first game.”

A late offensive surge coupled with three Glacier errors was enough to give Big Sky a come-from-behind, 7-5 win over the Wolfpack in the nightcap.

Vanterpool provided more than half of Glacier’s run total with one swing, which resulted in a three-run homer.

“We had a couple of key errors,” Connolly said.

The Wolfpack makes its home debut this Saturday with games against Helena Capital and Helena High at noon and 2 p.m., respectively.

Glacier 000 220 0 — 4 10 2

Sentinel 002 001 0 — 3 5 1

WP — Sage Vanterpool. LP — A. Hickethier.

GLACIER — Addie Labrum 1-4, Meg Hornby 0-3, Kynzie Mohl 2-3, Alivia Atlee 2-3, Allee Meyer 2-4, Sophie Smith 1-3, Maddie Johnson 1-3, Jennifer Wallace 1-3, Hallie Mikunen 0-3.

MISSOULA SENTINEL — T. Holmes 0-4, M. Wright 0-2, B. Weisgram 0-3, A. Hickethier 2-2, T. Brinkman 1-3, M. Holmes 0-2, J. Cooper 1-3, G. Hardy 1-3, M. Warren 0-1.

2B — Meyer. Hickethier, Brinkman. HR — Johnson. Hardy. RBI — Meyer 2, Johnson 2. Hickethiuer, M. Holmes, Hardy.

Glacier 031 001 0 — 5 9 3

Big Sky 010 330 0 — 7 9 2

WP — P. Hudson. LP — Emma Anderson.

GLACIER — Addie Labrum 2-4, Meg Hornby 1-4, Kynzie Mohl 1-4, Alivia Atlee 0-4, Allee Meyer 2-3, Sophie Smith 1-4, Maddie Johnson 1-3, Jennifer Wallace 0-2, Sage Vanterpool 1-2, Emma Anderson 0-0.

MISSOULA BIG SKY — B. Misinger 2-4, M. Liechty 2-3, E. Hermes 0-3, M. Bessette 1-3, P. Hudson 2-3, S. Allen 0-3, A. Gentry 1-1, M. Hewitt 1-3, K. Johnson 0-3.

2B — Labrum, Hornby, Meyer. Liechty, Bessette. 3B — Labrum. HR — Vanterpool. RBI — Smith, Vanterpool 3, Anderson. Bessette, Hudson, Gentry, Hewitt.