Softball Preview: Helena Bengals vs. Big Sky Eagles
Helena is 10-0 against Big Sky since May of 2018, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Saturday. The Helena Bengals will stay at home for another game and welcome the Big Sky Eagles at 11:00 a.m. Both teams come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Helena is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Montana's top teams: Hellgate, who was ranked 14th in their home state at the time (Helena was ranked 11th). Helena never let Hellgate onto the board and left with a 20-0 victory on Monday. Helena's hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Kylee Gardipee was incredible, going 3-for-3 with three runs, four RBI, and two doubles. The team also got some help courtesy of Ashley Koenig, who scored three runs and stole a base while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances.
Meanwhile, Big Sky put another one in the bag on Tuesday to keep their undefeated season alive. They came out on top against Capital by a score of 4-1.
Liberty Rogers spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on three hits. Those seven innings set a new season-high mark for her.
At the plate, Big Sky let Kyler Latrielle and Grace Hood loose on the outfield. Latrielle went 1-for-3 with a home run and two runs, while Hood went 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI. Hood has been hot recently, having posted at least one home run the last three times she's played.
Helena's win ended a five-game drought at home dating back to last season and bumped them up to 3-5. As for Big Sky, their victory was their seventh straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 7-0-1.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Saturday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Helena has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 10.9 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Big Sky struggles in that department as they've been averaging 6.6. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Everything went Helena's way against Big Sky when the teams last played back in May of 2023 as Helena made off with an 11-0 win. Will Helena repeat their success, or does Big Sky have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
