Scottie Softball Grand Slamming Into Postseason

The Glasgow/Hinsdale/Nashua softball team finished their regular season this past week with a huge come-from-behind win over the Sidney Eagles at home before splitting their games at the East-West Challenge in Cut Bank over the weekend.

Glasgow defeated Sidney 14-13 for Senior Night Tuesday in Glasgow then went 2-2 in Cut Bank. The Scotties won their first game 9-6, taking a win over Ennis before falling 11-1 to Mission-Arlee-Charlo (MAC) in their second game Friday. Saturday Glasgow defeated Troy 17-9 before losing 2-1 to Lincoln County. Glasgow finished their regular season with an overall 9-11 record.

Sidney took an early lead in Glasgow's final home game of the season at Sullivan Park but a seven-run performance in the bottom of the sixth brought the Scotties back into contention. They closed the game out in the seventh with a single run for the win.

The Eagles scored three runs in their first at-bat then sent Glasgow back to the field with a strikeout, groundout and strikeout in the bottom of the inning. The Scotties did not allow the Eagles a run in the top of the second before scoring their first run in the bottom of the inning. Tatum Nyquist scored on a Carly Nelson pop fly to second base.

Sidney answered in the top of the third but could not stop Glasgow from scoring again in the bottom of the inning. Montaya Idler took advantage of an error by the Eagles shortstop to complete her trip around the bases.

The Eagles extended their lead in the fourth with five runs but the Scotties added two of their own to stay alive. Carly Nelson scored on the throw when Daley Aune hit a line drive to center field and Aune scored on the next batter when Samantha Tryan grounded out.

Sidney scored their final runs in the top of the fifth with four more Eagles crossing the plate. Glasgow, however, sent another two Scotties home in the bottom of the inning on their way to a comeback. Nelson sent Nyquist home with a double line drive to center field and then scored herself on the throw when Brielle Partridge hit a pop fly to center.

Glasgow sent Sidney back to the field with a pop out and two ground outs in the top of the sixth before beginning their offensive assault in the bottom of the inning.

Aspen Stulc got on base with a pop fly followed by Macy Martin's strikeout and the Eagles walking Ashlee Meland and Stevie Hartwell to load the the bases for Glasgow. Nyquist then drilled an out-of-the-park hit for her first grand slam to bring the Scotties within three runs of the visitors.

Nelson scored three batters later when Aune hit a single ground ball. Tryan then sent Partridge and Aune home with a single ground ball to center field.

Glasgow allowed four Eagles to bat in the top of the seventh with a walk, ground out, strikeout and fly out then took only two batters to secure the win. Sidney walked Meland. She stole second with Hartwell at the plate. Meland took advantage of an error by the Eagles' second baseman on the throw to advance to third and then home, beating the throw to home with her slide.

The Scotties outhit the Eagles 14-10 in the game and committed only one error to Sidney's three.

Martin, Nyquist, Nelson, Partridge and Aune all notched two hits for Glasgow while Meland, Tryan, Idler and Stulc added one each. Nyquist led the team in RBIs with four with Tryan adding three, Nelson and Aune two each and Partridge one. Meland and Stulc each had two stole bases. Aune, Martin, Nyquist and Tryan took one a piece.

Martin started the game in the pitcher's circle for Glasgow followed by Meland and Aune in relief. Martin allowed eight runs on eight hits on 81 pitches. She threw a 54.3 strike percentage with two strikeouts. Meland allowed five runs and two hits in 59 pitches. She threw three strikeouts with a 55.9 strike percentage. Aune closed out the game with seven pitches and a strikeout.

In Cut Bank Glasgow faced Ennis first on Friday, walking away with a 9-6 victory.

Hartwell put Glasgow on the board first, rounding home on the throw when Aune hit a fly to center field in the first. The Scotties' score stood at one while Ennis answered in the bottom of the first then added a single run in both the third and fourth innings for a 3-1 lead heading into the fifth.

In another come-from-behind performance, Glasgow forced the game to nine innings. Hartwell scored again in the top of the fifth on an Aune ground ball. Martin scored in the top of the sixth on a Longtree ground out and Ennis answered in the bottom of the inning to take a 4-3 lead into the seventh.

Aune drove Hartwell home again in the top of the seventh on a ground ball to center field to force the game to extra innings after the Scottie defense shut Ennis out.

Partridge drove in Stulc and Hartwell in the top of the eighth for the Scotties' first lead of the game, but Ennis answered with two runs of their own for another bonus inning.

Glasgow put up three runs in the ninth with Martin scoring on a Stulc ground ball to center field and Hartwell sending Zandora Longtree home on a fly ball to center field followed by Stulc scoring on the throw.

The Scotties ended the game with a strikeout and two fly outs following a walk.

Glasgow racked up 24 hits in the game, compared to Ennis' 13 with both teams registering two errors.

Hartwell went 5-for-5 at the plate to lead the Scotties. Nyquist, Partridge, and Aune added three hits each while Meland, Nelson, Martin and Stulc had two a piece. Longtree and Berkley Hillman also notched hits for the Scotties.

Aune led in RBIs with three followed by Hartwell and Partridge with two each. Longtree and Stulc both sent a runner home as well for Glasgow. Aune also had the only stolen base in the win.

Aune spent the entirety of the game in the pitcher's circle, throwing 146 pitches and allowing six runs on 13 hits. She threw ten strikeouts with a 67.8 strike percentage.

Glasgow returned to the field against MAC that evening but could not manage the same offensive prowess as they had in game one, mustering only a single run in the game.

MAC went up 3-0 after one inning before Aune scored on a Martin ground out in the top of the second. MAC added three more runs in the bottom of the second and two in the third.

Glasgow's defense came up with a double play in the fifth but MAC added another three runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the game early with a 10-point lead.

Glasgow was outhit 21-5 in the contest and the Scotties committed one error while MAC turned in a clean game.

Partridge pitched the game for Glasgow, throwing 85 pitches with one strikeout and a 72.9 strike percentage.

Hartwell and Aune each went 2-for-3 at the plate with Meland notching the fifth hit for Glasgow. Martin had the sole RBI for the Scotties. Aune and Meland both had a stolen base.

Saturday, Glasgow faced Troy in their third game of the Challenge. Troy managed two runs in the first inning, but a 13-run inning for the Scotties put them ahead – where they would stay for the remainder of the game.

Hartwell was the first Scottie to cross the plate, scoring on a Partridge fly ball to right field. Partridge scored when Troy walked Nelson, advancing all the runners. Aune scored the same way when Martin took a courtesy trip to first base, as did Meland when Longtree watched four balls go by her. Nelson scored when Idler was hit by a pitch.

The pattern changed when Glasgow started at the top of their lineup again. Hartwell drilled an inside-the-park home run for the Scotties' second grand slam of the week, sending Martin, Longtree and Idler home before her.

Glasgow loaded the bases up again on a courtesy trip for Nyquist, a single by Partridge and a bunt from Aune. Nyquist then scored on an error by Troy's catcher as Partridge moved to third. Partridge scored on a passed ball, allowing Aune to take her spot on third base. Meland hit a line drive to third base, giving Aune her chance to cross the plate.

Continuing the pattern, Nelson was walked followed by singles from Martin and Longtree, putting Scotties on all the bases again. Idler sacrificed her body again at the plate, getting hit by a pitch to send her to first and advance all the runners with Nelson scoring. The inning ended with Martin out at third.

Troy put up a single run in the top of the second before shutting the Scotties out. Glasgow returned the favor in the top of the third before adding two more runs. Meland drove Aune home with a ground ball to left field before scoring herself when Martin grounded out to first base.

Glasgow allowed Troy two runs in the fourth then Hartwell scored on a Partridge ground out to make the score 16-5 heading into the fifth.

Troy fought back in the fifth, scoring four times before denying Glasgow any complete trips around the infield to prevent the game from ending early. The Scotties shut down Troy in the top of the sixth. Hartwell stole home in the bottom of the sixth with Meland at the plate for Glasgow's final run of the game. Troy was unable to convert any action in the seventh into runs, giving Glasgow the 17-9 win.

Troy notched 14 hits in the game to Glasgow's 11 while committing one error to the Scotties' three.

Hartwell led the Scotties with four RBIs, going 2-for-3 at bat. Partridge, Meland, Martin and Idler each added two RBIs while Nelson and Longtree had one each. Partridge, Aune and Meland each had two hits and Nyquist, Martin and Longtree had one a piece. Aune and Hartwell had two stolen bases each in leading Glasgow as Meland, Nelson and Nyquist registered one each.

Meland spend five innings in the pitcher's circle with Partridge coming in as relief. Meland threw 118 pitches, allowing nine runs on 11 hits. She threw a 58.5 strike percentage with four strikeouts. Partridge allowed no runs and three hits while throwing one strike with a 90.5 strike percentage on 21 throws.

Glasgow's final game of the week saw them in a pitching duel with Lincoln County.

Lincoln scored 2 in the first and Glasgow answered with one in the second. Longtree drove Meland home with a double fly ball to right field but the Scotties were convert any other hits into runs.

Glasgow was outhit 7-6 and outscored 2-1 in the tilt. Hartwell, Nyquist, Aune, Meland, Nelson and Longtree all went 1-for-3 at bat with Longtree notching the only Glasgow RBI.

Aune spent the duration of the game in the pitcher's circle, throwing 92 pitches. She threw seven strikeouts with a 68.5 strike percentage.

Glasgow begins their postseason this week at the Eastern B/C Divisional Tournament in Great Falls Friday and Saturday, May 20 and 21. The Scotties face Conrad at 9 a.m. Friday in their first game of the tournament.