Apr. 11—MISSOULA — Mackenzie Brandt hit two home runs, Olivia Nyman socked another and the Flathead Bravettes held off Missoula Hellgate for their first softball win of the season Thursday, 10-6.
Brandt's two-run shot broke a 1-1 tie in the third inning and gave Flathead (1-7) the lead for good. Brandt hit a leadoff homer and Nyman drilled a two-run shot to left in a three-run seventh inning — important runs, as Hellgate (0-5) answered with three runs in its half of the seventh.
A two-out two-run single from Quinn Kirschenheiter narrowed the gap to 10-6, before Flathead pitcher Lacie Franklin got a flyout to end it. Franklin went the distance, allowing 14 hits, two walks and three earned runs. She struck out five Knights.
Reece Conley and Danica Hennell hit doubles on each side of Nyman's RBI single in the sixth inning. Nyman was a triple short of the cycle.
Flathead's next action is the first of two Crosstown games next Thursday, at Glacier at 5 p.m.
Flathead 102 004 3 — 10 9 3
Hellgate 100 002 3 — 6 14 2
Lacie Franklin and Reese Conley. Avery King and Ella Lambert.
FLATHEAD — Mackenzie Brandt 2-4, Kinsey Lake 0-3, Conley 1-4, Olivia Nyman 3-4, Danica Hennell 1-4, Paulina Holland 1-3, Franklin 0-4, Makenna Korf 1-3, Dani Wester 0-3.
MISSOULA HELLGATE — Shannon Kane 1-4, Nat Blaney 3-4, King 1-4, Piper Wells 2-4, Lambert 1-4, Kaija Nagle 0-4, Kaylie Moe 1-3, Olivia Schubert 3-4, Quinn Kirschenheiter 2-4.
2B — Hennell, Nyman, Conley, Schubert, Kirschenheiter. HR — Brandt 2, Nyman. RBIs — Brandt 3, Nyman 3, Conley, Kirschenheiter 2, Kane, Blaney, Schubert.
