Butte softball sweeps Bravettes
BUTTE — The Flathead softball team managed one crooked number Saturday, while Butte had quite a few more in a Western AA sweep of the Bravettes.
With Mattie Stepan’s grand slam highlighting an eight-run third inning, Butte won the first game 13-1 in five innings.
In the second game, with Butte acting as the visitor, Allie Becker hit a three-run homer and Kendallyn Schad had a two-run shot in the Bulldogs’ 15-4 win in six innings.
Both games ended early under the mercy rule.
Butte 13, Flathead 1
Butte pitcher Ashlinn Mullaney held Flathead to just three hits. She walked two and struck out eight.
Flathead trailed 5-1 after Mackenzie Brandt’s RBI single in the third, but then came Butte’s big inning. Four Flathead errors, two singles and a walk helped the Bulldogs go up 9-1; Stepan then hit her grand slam.
Butte 15, Flathead 4
The Bulldogs got all the runs they needed in a seven-run first inning: Reese Johnson capped the rally with a two-run single; she’d also led off the inning with a single.
The Bravettes closed to 7-4 in the fourth inning, getting a two-run single from Danica Hennell and two more runs thanks to a Butte error and a double steal.
Butte answered with six runs in the fifth inning, including Becker’s homer. Schad’s home run capped the scoring in the sixth.
Mullaney threw all six innings in the circle for Butte, walking six and striking out seven.
Flathead’s next game is Thursday, against crosstown rival Glacier. The game is set for 5p p.m. at Kidsport.
First game
Flathead 001 00 - 1 3 7
Butte 328 0x - 13 9 0
Lacie Franklin, Danica Hennell (3) and Reece Conley. Ashlinn Mullaney and Gracie Ferriter.
FLATHEAD — Conley 1-3, Hennell 0-2, Mackenzie Brandt 1-3, Macey McIlhargey 0-2, Olivia Nyman 1-1, Kinsey Lake 0-2, Lily Anderson 0-2, Franklin 0-2, Makenna Korf 0-1.
BUTTE — Reese Johnson 1-3, Ferriter 1-4, Mullaney 0-3, Mattie Stepan 1-3, Gracie Jonart 1-3, Kendallyn Schad 2-3, Allie Becker 0-2, Madisyn Swanson 2-3, Ally Godbout 1-3.
2B — Brandt, Ferriter, Jonart. HR — Stepan. RBIs — Brandt, Stepan 4, Jonart 2, Schad, Swanson, Ferriter.
Second game
Butte700 062 - 15 15 3
Flathead 000 400 - 4 6 3
Mullaney, Brea Henderson (5) and Ferriter. McIlhargeyu, Hennell (6) and Conley.
BUTTE — Johnson 2-4, Ferriter 2-4, Mullaney 2-4, Stepan 2-4, Jonart –2, Schad 1-3, Becker 1-3, Brittyn Klima 0-1, Swanson 2-4, Godbout 2-4.
FLATHEAD — Conley 0-2, Hennell 2-3, Brandt 0-4, McIlhargey 0-2, Nyman 0-2, Lake 0-3, Anderson 0-2, Peters 1-1, Franklin 0-2, Hall 0-0, Korf 2-3.
2B — Godbout. HR — Becker, Schad. RBIs — Becker 3, Johnson 2, Ferriter 2, Mullaney 2, Stepan , Swanson, Godbout, Hennell 2, Brandt.