FLORENCE — The two-time defending Class B softball champions topped their biggest rival, and one of their toughest challengers for the crown this year, on Tuesday. Florence dug out of an early hole to beat Missoula Loyola, 9-4, in a Western B softball battle.
Loyola scored two runs in the first inning on RBI by Kayla Hickethier and Carly Tipp. The Breakers came inches away from adding to that 2-0 lead in the top of the third. Hickethier blasted what looked like a home run to left field. However, Rilee Mangun reached over the wall and robbed the homer with an incredible catch as she crashed into the wall and Loyola did not score in the inning.
Then in the bottom of the third, the Falcons loaded the bases. Danielle Zahn bunted for a single to put Florence on the board. Later, with two outs and the bases still loaded, Kasidy Yeoman provided the game-changing hit. The freshman lined a bases-clearing triple to left-center, bringing in three Florence runs. The Falcons kept scoring to pull away for the 9-4 victory.
Florence will battle another conference opponent on Thursday, traveling to the Mission-Arlee-Charlo co-op. Loyola also takes the field again on Thursday afternoon hosting Anaconda.
