Morales’ big day helps Flathead to softball split
MISSOULA — Breanna Morales homered in both ends of Flathead’s doubleheader Thursday, and her grand slam proved the difference in the Bravettes’ 15-11 win over Missoula Big Sky.
In their first game the Bravettes fell to Western AA softball leader Missoula Sentinel, 13-3, in a game shortened to five innings.
Morales had staked Flathead (2-9 overall and 2-6 in league) to a first-inning lead with her three-run homer.
Her grand slam capped an 8-run, seventh-inning rally in the nightcap against Big Sky and staked Flathead to a 15-8 lead. The seventh inning began with six walks issued by the Eagles, along with a single by Kaiden Lake. Lake also had Flathead’s second hit against Sentinel.
Ilyssa Centner went the distance pitching against Big Sky, and struck out four for the win. She helped her own cause with three hits, including a double, and four runs knocked in.
“We made some errors behind her. She pitched really well,” Flathead coach Jack Foster said of Centner. “She gave us a chance to win, which we did. We kept battling.”
Karissa Comer added two hits against Big Sky, and Macy Craver had a double and drove in two.
First game
Flathead 300 00 - 3 2 3
Sentinel 263 02 - 13 14 0
Karissa Comer, Ilyssa Centner (5) and Laynee Vesser. Kaylee Hoover, Grace Hardy (4) and Emma Ries.
FLATHEAD — Macy Craver 0-1, Alyssa Cadwalader 0-2, Centner 0-2, Comer 0-2, Breanna Morales 1-2, Vesser 0-2, Kaiden Lake 1-2, Ellie Eve 0-2, Alyssa Poe-Hatten 0-2.
SENTINEL — Hardy 3-4, Wolsky 1-2, Taylor 1-2, Kay 1-2, Fraser 2-4, Gaub 2-3, Schweitzer 0-2, Ries 2-3, Holmes 1-3, Wright 1-1.
2B — Hardy, Wolsky, Kay, Gaub. HR — Morales, Fraser. RBIs — Morales 3, Fraser 3, Gaub 2, Wright 2, Wolsky 2, Hardy, Holmes.
Second game
Flathead 013 201 8 - 15 12 4
Big Sky 201 032 3 - 11 13 2
Centner and Vesser. Rogers, Nie (3), M. Hewitt (6) and Hood.
FLATHEAD — Craver 1-4, Vesser 1-4, Cadwalader 0-2, Centner 3-4, Morales 2-4, Comer 2-3, Lake 1-5, Eve 0-2, Poe-Hatten 1-3.
BIG SKY — McPhillips 2-5, B. Hewitt 1-4, Hood 1-4, M. Hewitt 0-4, Whitmire 4-4, Nie 2-3, Schaffer 2-4, Rogers 0-2, Brown 1-4.
2B — Craver, Centner, Poe-Hatten, Whitmire. HR — Morales. RBIs — Morales 5, Centner 4, Craver 2, Vesser, Cadwalader, Comer, Whitmire 4, Nie 2, Schaffer 2, Brown 2, M. Hewitt, McPhillips.