The Sentinel Spartans will challenge the Big Sky Eagles at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Sentinel is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.3 runs per game this season.
Sentinel is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Montana's top teams: Glacier, who was ranked fifth at the time (Sentinel was ranked tenth). The Spartans sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with an 8-7 win over the Wolfpack on Thursday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Spartans have posted since April 30, 2024.
Piper Whitman
| 04/10/25 vs Glacier | 5 |
| 04/07/25 @ Butte | 4 |
| 04/02/25 @ Frenchtown | 2 |
| 03/28/25 @ Helena | 1 |
| 03/27/25 vs Capital | 1 |
| + 7 more games |
Piper Whitman was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She tossed seven innings while giving up just one earned (and six unearned) runs off six hits. What's more, she posted five strikeouts, the most she's had since back in May of 2024. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs while going 2-for-4. She also put up two doubles, which were her first of the season.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Sydney Goldbar, who went 2-for-4 with one home run and three RBI.
Meanwhile, Big Sky hadn't done well against Helena recently (they were 2-7 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Saturday. The Eagles came out on top against the Bengals by a score of 4-1. The four-run effort marked the Eagles' lowest-scoring matchup of the season, but in the end it didn't matter.
Briella Wilson spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered a run (which was unearned) on four hits. She has been consistent : she hasn't given up more than one walk in five consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Sadie McGuinn was incredible, going 1-for-2 with one home run and three RBI. She is on a roll when it comes to home runs, as she's now launched at least one in each of the last three games she's played.
The win made it two in a row for Big Sky and bumps their season record up to 6-1. The victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered a grand total of 4 runs in those games. As for Sentinel, they now have a winning record of 5-4.
Fans could be in store for some top-tier slugging on Tuesday. Sentinel hasn't had any problems when it comes to power this season, having averaged 1 home runs per game. However, it's not like Big Sky struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 1 home runs. With so much power on both teams, it'll be down to the pitchers to keep the mound locked down.
Sentinel couldn't quite finish off Big Sky in their previous matchup back in May of 2024 and fell 21-19. Can the Spartans avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
