Belgrade is 7-0 against Gallatin since April of 2021, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Thursday. The Belgrade Panthers will head out on the road to challenge the Gallatin Raptors at 5:00 p.m. Belgrade is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.9 runs per game this season.
Belgrade is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Montana's top teams: Billings Senior, who was ranked ninth in their home state at the time (Belgrade was ranked eighth). Belgrade lost 13-6 to Billings Senior on Tuesday. It was the first time this season that Belgrade let down their fans at home.
Ava Lund and Brooklyn Ragland did some serious damage despite the final result: Lund went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a double, while Ragland went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a double.
Meanwhile, Gallatin won against Great Falls on Thursday with 13 runs and they decided to stick to that run total again on Tuesday. Gallatin blew past Bozeman 13-2. The win made it back-to-back victories for Gallatin.
Gallatin let Braxton Gray and Kelly Coon loose on the outfield. Gray fired off two home runs and three RBI while going 3-for-4, while Coon went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, and two runs. Parker Stevens was another key contributor, scoring two runs while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
Belgrade has been struggling recently as they've lost three of their last four contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 14-6 record this season. As for Gallatin, their win bumped their record up to 10-6.
Thursday's match will be a test for both team's pitchers. Belgrade hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .332. However, it's not like Gallatin struggles in that department as they've averaged .355. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Belgrade came out on top in a nail-biter against Gallatin when the teams last played back in April, sneaking past 10-8. One of the biggest obstacles the team faced in that game was Gallatin's Addison Bleile, who fired off two home runs and three RBI while going 2-for-4. Now that she's got a second chance to win this matchup, will Belgrade still be able to contain Bleile? There's only one way to find out.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
