Shuffled lineup pays dividends as Glacier sweeps Flathead

Glacier head softball coach Abby Connolly saw a disturbing trend during her team’s losses to Helena Capital and Helena High last Saturday.

“We noticed we were getting a lot of hits and not scoring a lot of runs,” Connolly said.

So she shuffled the lineup for Tuesday’s doubleheader against crosstown rival Flathead. The move paid off.

The Glacier bats came to life in both games, leading to a Wolfpack sweep by scores of 6-3 in Game 1 and 9-5 in Game 2. The opener counted as a conference game, and Game 2 was classified as non-conference.

“We just strung some hits together and scored runs, which we’ve been struggling to do, so it was nice to see their effort and practice come to fruition,” Connolly said. “They were much more patient, swinging at good pitches and driving the ball.”

Allee Meyer led the Glacier (3-3) offense, tallying a team-high five hits to go with four RBIs over the two games.

“We had some hitters really step up,” Connolly said. “(Meyer) had a huge day.”

Addie Labrum, who dropped from leadoff to the No. 2 spot in the batting order in the lineup shift, paced the Wolfpack at the plate with three hits and three RBIs in Game 1. Her two-RBI single was the key hit in Glacier’s three-run third inning, and she added an RBI double in a two-run fourth.

Riley Chouinard blasted a solo home run for Flathead (0-6) in the third inning, but it was one of few mistakes in the game by Glacier’s Sage Vanterpool. The sophomore hurler allowed just three other hits and struck out 12 Bravettes in a complete game.

“That’s a great day for any pitcher in our league, so for a sophomore to come in, in her first crosstown game, and do that is great,” Connolly said.

Flathead grabbed the momentum from the very beginning in Game 2. Jayden Russell hit the first pitch of the game from freshman Emma Anderson out of the park, staking the Bravettes to an early lead.

It wouldn’t last long, however, as Glacier sprayed the ball around the yard on its way to 16 hits and runs in five of its six at-bats.

Most of the Wolfpack’s production came from the bottom of the order.

Meyer, batting in the No. 5 hole, delivered three hits and three RBIs. Jenn Wallace, hitting seventh, was a perfect 4-4 with two RBIs. Hallie Nikunen posted three hits and two RBIs from the No. 8 spot.

Meyer’s two-run double, one of her two in the game, gave Glacier the lead for good.

Russell was the highlight for Flathead. In addition to her home run, she contributed a two-run double in the sixth.

Hailey Jump added three hits for the Bravettes over the two games.

Anderson settled down after Russell’s first-pitch homer to strike out seven in her first complete game on varsity.

Glacier returns to action on Friday at 4 p.m. at Missoula Hellgate. Flathead is back on the field Saturday for a doubleheader against Hellgate at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Game 1

Flathead 101 001 0 — 3 4 1

Glacier 003 201 x — 6 13 2

WP — Sage Vanterpool. LP — Maitlynn Betts.

FLATHEAD — Jayden Russell 0-3, Riley Chouinard 1-3, Kaileigh Denna 2-4, Hailey Jump 1-2, Maitlynn Betts 1-3, Karissa Comer 0-2, Kate Smith 0-1, Kayla Kallis 0-2, Alyssa Cadwalader 0-2, Kyann Devera 0-3.

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

2B — Labrum. HR — Chouinard. RBI — Chouinard, Betts, Denna. Labrum 3, Atlee, Meyer, Johnson.

Game 2

Flathead 100 103 0 — 5 7 4

Glacier 210 312 x — 9 16 2

WP — Emma Anderson. LP — Haylee Learn.

FLATHEAD — Jayden Russell 2-3, Riley Chouinard 0-4, Kaileigh Denna 0-3, Hailey Jump 2-4, Kate Smith 0-2, Kayla Kallis 1-4, Haylee Learn 1-3, Alyssa Cadwalader 0-3, Kyann Devera 1-2.

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

2B — Russell. Meyer 2, Wallace. HR — Russell. RBI — Russell 3, Learn, Cadwalader. Mohl, Smith, Meyer 3, Wallace 2, Nikunen 2.