Kats 4th at State A softball

HAMILTON — After nearly two full days fighting through the consolation bracket, Columbia Falls ran out of gas and fell to Laurel 5-4 Saturday at the State A softball tournament.

Columbia Falls (18-8) carried a 4-2 lead into the sixth inning when Onnikka Lawrence delivered a solo home run in the fifth and Katie Bulawsky followed with an RBI single. 

But Laurel (22-9)  answered in the bottom half when Ava Styles launched a three-run homer to center field, giving the Locomotives the lead for good. 

Bulawsky lined an RBI single in the first inning and finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs. She also worked six innings in the circle, allowing five runs on 10 hits while striking out two. 

Columbia Falls played four games in less than 24 hours after weather delays suspended multiple games. 

Laurel was led by Styles, who finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs. 

The Locomotives then defeated Frenchtown to advance to the championship game against Hamilton, which has reportedly been postponed until Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Stodden Park in Butte.