Wildkats hand Belgrade first loss, 6-5

Columbia Falls softball players probably didn't know Belgrade, the third-place finisher at state last year, was unbeaten going into their non-conference game Friday to open the LaVerne Combo Invitational in Butte. But coach Dave Kehr did.

The Wildkats scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, earning a 6-5 victory over the Panthers. That was the first of four tourney victories for C-Falls, which extended their win streak to eight games.

C-Falls beat Corvallis 7-4 later Friday. On Saturday, the Wildkats beat Glendive 11-2 in six innings, and posted an 8-4 win over Hardin.

In a Western A game Tuesday, the Wildkats put away Browning 15-2 in five innings.

C-Falls takes a 6-1 league mark and 14-3 overall record into today's (Thursday) key game at Polson. The Wildkats play Friday at Libby, then take on Stevensville in a non-league doubleheader Saturday at Stevi.

Belgrade scored a run in the top of the eighth. Renae Nelson was on second to start the bottom half via the international tie-breaker rule and was singled to third by Amanda Milliard. Amber James blooped a single over the pitcher, scoring Nelson to tie the game and Milliard went to third. After a fly out and strikeout, Cassidee Skiles provided the game-winning hit — lining the ball down the third base line to score Milliard.

"They hung in there really well," Kehr said.

C-Falls was outhit in three of the four wins. Belgrade collected 10 hits off winning pitcher Morgan Rowe while the Wildkats had seven off Lauren Torres. Rowe struck out three and walked two.

"We're finding ways of manufacturing some runs," Kehr said.

James, who was 7-for-10 in the first three tourney games, went 4-for-4 against Belgrade and drove in three runs.

ROWE AND Jessica Owens pitched the Wildkats to the five-inning win over Corvallis. Rowe threw the first three innings and Owens covered the last two. They allowed a combined 10 hits.

Kayla Stinger blasted a three-run homer in the Wildkats' five-run third inning; it was her first homer of the season. James had two RBIs, and Nelson walked three times.

C-Falls batters drew seven walks and had six base-on-balls in Saturday's win over Glendive.

"They're being more selective and hitting good pitches," Kehr said of the Wildkats.

C-Falls led Glendive 7-1 after just two innings and took advantage of four Dawson County errors.

James was 2-for-2 with her third homer of the season; she drove in three runs. Nelson, batting in the No. 2 slot, was 2-for-2 with a walk.

"She's feeling better at the plate and starting to get comfortable with the new role," Kehr said of Nelson.

Rowe pitched the win, with an inning of relief by Milliard. Each gave up only one hit. Both Glendive runs were unearned as the Wildkats committed three errors.

C-Falls jumped to a 7-0 lead over Hardin in the second inning.

Milliard was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Nelson had two hits. Niki Birky drove in two runs.

Rowe pitched four innings, Milliard one and Owens two in the win. They allowed a combined nine hits.

James continued her hot hitting, going 4-for-4 in Tuesday's win over Browning. She had three doubles and six RBIs. Shaun Rowe and Tia Yaeger were both 2-for-4 with a double.

Morgan Rowe went the distance in the circle, scattering seven hits.

The Lady Indians committed eight errors.

"Everybody is contributing," Kehr said. "It's an overall team effort."

Going into today's game, Polson is 6-1 in league, tied with C-Falls. Kehr said Libby will also be a challenge for the Wildkats.

Belgrade 220 002 01 - 5 10 2

C-Falls 300 100 02 - 6 7 1

Lauren Torres and Brittany Larsen; Morgan Rowe and Amber James. W - Rowe. L - Torres.

Belgrade — Aly Cygan 1-4, Meagan Bell 1-3, Torres 1-4, Larsen 2-4, Kasey West 0-3, Melissa Bell 1-4, Kassie Kallestad 0-2, Ali Morgan 2-4, Justin Taylor 1-3, Jillian Gue 1-2.

Columbia Falls — Tia Yaeger 1-3, Renae Nelson 0-4, Amanda Milliard 0-3, James 4-4, Kayla Stinger 0-3, Shaun Rowe 1-4, Cassidee Skiles 1-3, M. Rowe 0-3, Cedar Smith 0-3.

Corvallis 000 13 - 4 10 1

Columbia Falls 105 01 - 7 5 1

Alex Ewing and Korie Conder; M. Rowe, Jessica Owens (4) and James. W - Rowe. L - Ewing.

Corvallis — Angie Henderson 1-3, BriAnna Brawley 1-3, Markie Gurley 1-3, Amber Bradshaw 3-3, Megan Auch 0-3, Conder 1-3, Danielle Morris 2-3, Ruby Ostrander 0-3, Teagan Elliot 1-3, Ewing 0-0, Brittany Montgomery 0-0.

Columbia Falls — Yaeger 1-2, Nelson 0-0, Milliard 1-3, James 1-3, Stinger 2-3, S. Rowe 0-2, Skiles 0-2, Owens 0-1, M. Rowe 0-3, Niki Birky 0-1.

Glendive 101 00 - 2 1 2

Columbia Falls 341 30 - 11 8 0

Cassie Caudill and Sam Unruh; M. Rowe and James. W - Rowe. L - Caudill.

Glendive — Unruh 1-2, Kori Christianson 0-2, Kalli Cress 0-2, Kyla Johnson 0-2, Jana Wagner 0-1, Ariel Stearns 0-1, Mikka Wold 0-1, Nikki McClellan 0-2, Caudill 0-2, Kassie Bowles 0-2.

Columbia Falls — Yaeger 1-2, Nelson 2-2, Milliard 0-2, James 2-2, Stinger 1-3, S. Rowe 1-1, Tessa Cowan 1-1, Skiles 0-2, M. Rowe 0-1, Birky 0-1.

Hardin 001 201 0 - 4 9 4

C-Falls 341 100 x - 8 8 3

Jessica Campbell and Alice-Ann Sloan; M. Rowe and James. W - Rowe. L - Campbell.

Hardin — Shelley Hodges 2-4, Terin Old Elk 1-4, Joelle Link 0-2, Kaley Krebs 1-3, Randee Alvarado 0-4, Holly Old Crow 0-3, Campbell 1-3, Alyssa Johnson 2-3, Jessica Joyce 1-3.

Columbia Falls — Yaeger 1-4, Nelson 2-4, Milliard 2-3, James 0-3, Stinger 0-3, S. Rowe 1-2, Cowan 0-1, Skiles 1-3, M. Rowe 0-2, Owens 1-1, Birky 0-2, Smith 0-1.

Columbia Falls 212 46 - 15 11 1

Browning 001 01 - 2 7 8

M. Rowe and James; Alyssa Hodgson and Sarah Horn. W - Rowe. L - Hodgson.

Columbia Falls — Yaeger 4-5, Nelson 1-4, Milliard 2-4, James 4-4, Stinger 3-4, S. Rowe 2-4, Skiles 1-4, M. Rowe 0-3, Smith 2-3.

Browning — Shanelle Shunkcap 0-3, Bristen Belcourt 2-2, Ashlynn Fish 2-3, Kenire Wellman 0-3, Horn 0-2, Hodgson 1-1, Destin Ell 0-2, Taylee Kennerly 1-2, Milynn Lazyboy 1-2.