Flathead softball earns split in Helena

HELENA — Olivia Nyman hit a three-run home run to back the pitching of Macey McIlhargey and June Stickney, and Flathead beat Helena 5-2 Saturday to earn a split of its games against the Helena schools.

In their first game the Bravettes fell to Helena Capital 4-0, but the bats came alive against the Bengals.

Nyman’s home run in the second inning answered a solo shot by Helena’s Dakota Lieberg, and proved to be all the runs the Bravettes (5-11) needed.

Flathead scratched out a run in ths sixth when Makenna Korf walked, stole second and came around on a pair of Helena errors.

In the seventh Tegan Strauss sand Stickney singled ahead of a Reese Rosebeg grounder that was misplayed for an error, scoring Strauss.

Stickney threw two perfect innings of relief, fanning four. McIlhargey went five innings, allowing six hits and a walk. She fanned two. Helena fell to 6-11.

Flathead stays on the road to play the Great Falls schools on Tuesday, starting at 2 p.m.

Flathead 030 001 1 - 5 8 1

Helena 100 100 0 - 2 6 3

Macey McIlhargey, June Stickney (6) and Gwyn Hennell. Kira Thormas, Rylee Murgel (6) and Grace Dobler, Kira Thomas.

FLATHEAD — Olivia Nyman 1-3, Sophia Torgison 0-4, McIlhargey 0-4, Tegan Strause 2-3, Stickney 3-4, Reese Rosenberg 1-4, Kinsey Lake 0-3, Makenna Korf 0-1, Lily Anderson 0-1, Hennell 1-3, Paulina Holland 0-0.

HELENA — Dakota Leiberg 1-4, Heidi Ricketts 0-4, Bailey Smith 2-3, Murgel 0-3, Charlotte Schulte 1-3, CharLee Benson 1-3, Dobler 0-3, Alexa Lundstrom 1-3, Addi Cobb 0-0, A Haden 0-0, K Thomas 0-3.

2B — Stickney. HR — Nyman, Lieberg. RBIs — Nyman 3, Lieberg, Lundstrom.

Capital 4, Flathead 0

The Bravettes’ offense found little traction in the opener, getting held to four hits by Bruins’ pitcher Calyse Hndrix, who struck out six while walking one.

Nyman had two hits for Flathead, which got a solid performance from Stickney in the circle: She allowed six hits, three walks and three earned runs in six innings. She fanned six Bruins (6-10).

Flathead 000 000 0 - 0 4 0

Capital 120 001 x - 4 5 1

Stickney and Gwyn Hennell. Calyse Hendrix and Gretta Canney.

FLATHEAD — Stickney 1-3, Torgison 0-3, McIlhargey 0-3, Strauss 1-3, Nyman 2-3, Rosenberg 0-3, Korf 0-2, Anderson 0-1, Danica Hennell 0-3, Lake 0-1, Holland 0-0.

HELENE CAPITAL — Madi Emmert 1-2, Canney 0-3, Ali Miller 0-3, Hendrick 0-2, Jaiden Grooms 0-2, Avery Williams 2-3, C Berg 0-2, Rheagan Harlow 0-0, Addy Allen 1-2, Seeley Schwenk 1-2.

2B — Allen, Wiliams. RBIs — Harlow, Schwenk.