AA Lakers split opening twinbill

MISSOULA — Oscar Kallis’ two-out single plated two runs in the seventh inning, and the Kalispell AA Lakers beat Missoula 4-3 Saturday to salvage a split in their American Legion baseball doubleheader.

The Lakers opened their season with a 12-5 loss to the Mavericks at Lindborg-Cregg Field — Schuyler Fairchild hit two doubles and drove in four runs for Missoula in that one — but rallied nicely behind pitchers Jackson Heino and Hunter Fann in the second game. 

Missoula (3-3) had made up a 2-0 deficit in the nightcap to lead 3-2 in the sixth: Colter Nicolarson hit a leadoff double, was sacrificed to third and came in on Easton Reimers’ squeeze bunt to break a 2-2 tie.