Mar. 30—MISSOULA — The Bravettes came out of the gates hot, but Big Sky took control soon after for a 10-3 win Saturday in a Western AA softball matchup.
Originally scheduled to take place at Kidsport in Kalispell, the game was moved to Missoula as the complex is not open to the public yet.
Flathead took just three pitches to find the lead as Mackenzie Brandt cleared the fence in centerfield to put the Bravettes ahead 1-0. Olivia Nyman doubled the advantage with a sacrifice fly that brought home Reese Conley later in the inning.
Big Sky cut the advantage to 2-1 after one and seized the lead in the second inning on a Hayden Weaver double to right field that scored Brielle Wilson. When the inning ended the Eagles held a 5-2 advantage.
They extended the advantage in a 3-run fourth, highlighted by an Aubrey Bykari single that drove in Weaver. Bykari had four hits, including a home run, and drove in three runs.
The Bravettes cut the deficit to 8-3 in the fifth as Macey McIlhargey singled to right, bringing in Lily Anderson.
McIlhargey went five innings in the circle, striking out five.
Brielle Wilson started for the Eagles, going five innings and fanning six.
Flathead is back on the diamond Tuesday; the Bravettes travel to take on Libby at 5:30 p.m.
Flathead 200 010 0 — 3 8 3
Big Sky 140 302 x — 10 11 1
Macey McIlhargey, Lacie Franklin (6) and Lily Anderson. Briella Wilson, Sara Bjornson (6) and Kaya Lopez.
FLATHEAD — Mackenzie Brandt 2-4, Macey McIlhargey 2-4, Reese Conley 1-4, Olivia Nyman 1-2, Kinsie Lake 1-2, Danica Hennell 0-3, Lacie Franklin 0-3, Lily Anderson 1-3, Makenna Korf 0-3.
MISSOULA BIG SKY — Kyler Latrielle 2-4, Hayden Weaver 2-4, Sadie McGuinn 1-2, Aubrey Bykari 3-3, Sara Bjornson 3-4, Irene Griswold 0-4, Logan Latrielle 0-4, Kaya Lopez 1-3, Brielle Wilson 0-3.
2B — McIlhargey, Lake. Bjornson, Weaver. HR — Brandt. Bykari. RBIs — Brandt, McIlhargey, Nyman. Bykari 3, Weaver 2, Bjornson 2, Griswold, McGuinn.
