Big Sky hasn't had much luck against Helena recently, but that could start to change on Saturday. The Eagles will square off against the Bengals at 11:00 a.m. Big Sky is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 11.2 runs per game this season.
Big Sky is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Montana's top teams: Capital, who was ranked 14th at the time (Big Sky was ranked eighth). The Eagles blew past the Bruins 16-3 on Tuesday. The result was nothing new for the Eagles, who have now won five games by seven runs or more so far this season.
Kyler Latrielle
| 04/08/25 vs Capital | 4 |
| 04/03/25 vs Glacier | 0 |
| 04/01/25 vs Hellgate | 1 |
| 03/29/25 vs Flathead | 2 |
| 03/27/25 vs Corvallis | 2 |
| + 9 more games |
Sadie McGuinn and Kyler Latrielle did most of the damage at the plate: McGuinn scored three runs and stole a base while going 3-for-4, while Latrielle scored two runs and stole three bases while going 4-for-4. That's the most hits Latrielle has posted since back in May of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Irene Griswold, who scored two runs while going 1-for-3.
They weren't the only one making solid contact: Big Sky kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Capital only managed nine hits.
Meanwhile, Helena was not the first on the board on Thursday, but they got there more often. They had just enough and edged out Butte 7-6. The Bengals haven't had any issues with the Bulldogs recently, as the game was their sixth consecutive win against them.
Faith Howard spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered five earned (and one unearned) runs on 13 hits and racked up seven Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts any time she's pitched this season.
On the hitting side, Heidi Ricketts was excellent, scoring two runs while going 2-for-3. Those runs were her first of the season.
Helena's victory was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 5-1. Those road wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.3 runs on average over those games. As for Big Sky, their record now sits at 5-1.
Helena's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Big Sky has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .553. It's a different story for Helena, though, as they've only averaged .361. Will they be able to contain Big Sky's hitters? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
