MISSOULA — The third inning doomed Flathead in each of its two softball games against Missoula Hellgate on Saturday, as the Knights scored big in that inning to sweep the Bravettes, 11-8, 13-3.

Flathead entered the third inning tied 3-3 with Hellgate in the opener, a Western AA conference game. The Knights scored five runs in the bottom of the frame to take full control of the contest.

Abbie O’Brien was 3- for-4 from the plate with a double and three RBIs and Kaycee Smith was 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs for the Bravettes.

The bottom of the third doomed Flathead again in the nonconference half of the doubleheader. Still in the contest trailing 3-1, the Bravettes allowed six runs in the third to fall behind 9-1.

First Game (conference game)

Hellgate 11, Flathead 8

Flathead 120 300 2 — 8 8 1

Hellgate 305 201 x — 11 7 2

Niea Sutton, Kadee Jenson (3), Sutton (6) and Kaylee Henderson. Talley Hill and Sierrah Hardy. W – Hill. L – Sutton.

FLATHEAD – Abbie O’Brien 3-4, Iris Matulevich 0-3, Kaitlin Torgerson 1-4, Henderson 0-3, Kaycee Smith 1-4, Kylee Meredith 1-4, Shayla Tweet 0-3, Lynsey Potter 0-3, Sutton 2-3.

HELLGATE – McKenna Gagner 2-4, Adessa Gagner 0-4, Hill 2-3, Callie McKillop 1-4, Hardy 3-3, Frankie Needles 0-4, Rory Anderson 1-3, Ambria Elliott 0-3, Katie Packard 1-2.

2B – O’Brien; Hill, Hardy 2, Anderson. HR – Smith; Hardy. RBI – O’Brien 3, Matulevich, Torgerson, Smith 2, Sutton; M. Gagner, McKillop, Hardy 5, Anderson, Elliott, Packard.

Second Game (nonconference)

Hellgate 13, Flathead 3

Flathead 100 020 — 3 6 1

Hellgate 126 004 — 13 13 0

Sutton, Jenson (3)and Henderson. McKillop and Hardy. W – McKillop. L – Sutton.

FLATHEAD – O’Brien 1-1, Matulevich 1-3, Torgerson 1-3 , Henderson 1-1, Smith 0-3, Meredith 0-3, Tweet 1-3, Potter 0-3, Sutton 1-2.

HELLGATE – M. Gagner 1-2, A. Gagner 2-4, Hill 2-3, McKillop 1-4, Hardy 1-3, Anderson 2-4, Needles 2-4 , Madison Albert 1-4, Packard 3-4.

2B – Hill 2, Packard 2. 3B – O’Brien, M. Gagner. RBI – O’Brien, Torgerson; M. Gagner, A. Gagner 2, Hill, Anderson 2, Needles, Packard 2.