The Helena Senators spoiled opening day at Griffin Field, sweeping the Kalispell Lakers in a nonconference doubleheader 6-0 and 3-2 on a cold Saturday afternoon.

The first game was dominated by Helena pitcher Joe Spradlin, who cruised through the Lakers batting order for a complete game shutout. He struck out nine batters in seven innings of work and allowed just four hits.

Brandon Maassen and Brett Thomas were both 1 for 2 at the plate while Jake Barstow and Chris Sibley each had a base hit for the Lakers’ only hits.

The Senators got to Kalispell’s Sam Crompton, who gave up five runs through three innings.

Helena’s Zack Merzlack had a two-RBI triple in the second, and the Senators tacked on three more runs in the third before Colton Wiley relieved Crompton in the fourth inning.

Wiley gave up one run in the sixth and threw a scoreless seventh inning, but the Lakers’ bats couldn’t solve Spradlin.

“Offensively we were a little disappointed with the way that we executed,” Lakers head coach Ryan Malmin said. “We struggled with some offensive situations which was frustrating, but it’s early on, and it’s a learning process.”

A light rain fell onto Griffin Field through the beginning of the second game.

Helena put up a run on the first inning, but the Lakers answered in the second by scoring a run without recording a hit.

Kalipsell center fielder Jake Barstow was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and used his speed to steal both second and third, while teammate Chris Sibley walked.

Helena pitcher Jack Shevalier’s pick-off attempt caught Sibley leaning, but he managed to prolong a rundown between first and second so Barstow could score from third.

“Jake’s been a great player for us,” Malmin said. “He’s a veteran and we kind of expect him to make those plays. He leads by example with his hustle. That’s what we want to see from him, and he’s fun to watch run.”

After holding the Senators scoreless in the third Kalispell tacked on another run in the bottom of the inning.

Second baseman Levi Brennamen reached base on an infield single and scored from first when catcher Adam Frandsen hit a hard double that one-hopped to the left field fence.

Helena tied the game up in the fourth, and both teams were held scoreless until the final inning, when tragedy struck for the Lakers.

What looked to be a routine flyball to left field turned into an RBI double for Helena’s shortstop Troy Arntson.

With teammate Koby Griffin on first, Griffin hit a pop fly to Kalispell left fielder Brandon Maassen, but Maassen lost it in the gray overcast sky that had just begun to break open with sunshine.

The ball dropped just behind Maassen allowing Griffin to race around to the plate for the go-ahead run.

Griffin then came in to pitch the seventh and put the Lakers down in order for the sweep.

“That play is magnetized, but the bottom line is we had hundreds of chances to make different things happen. That was just a small piece to the overall picture,” Malmin said. “We can’t hang our hats on just that one play. Tomorrow is a new day. We’ll have to compete and get better in our offensive situations.”

The Lakers will look to redeem themselves today, as they compete in another doubleheader. The Belgrade Bandits will visit Griffin Field to take on Kalispell with the first game starting at noon.

Game 1

Helena    023    001    0    —    6    7    0

Kalispell    000    000    0    —    0    4    3

Joe Spradlin and Carter Pappas. Sam Crompton, Colton Wiley (4) and Jake Barstow. W — Spradlin. L — Crompton.

HELENA — Chase Rook 0-3, Troy Arntson 1-4, Brad Tiefenthaler 1-4, Zach Merzlak 1-4, Nick Wrigg 1-4, Tristan Shea 1-3, Eric Emanuel 1-4, Danny Burton 0-3, Brett Thomas 1-2, Carter Pappas 1-2.

KALISPELL — Walker Malmin 0-3, Justin Wallace 0-3, Justin Rich 0-3, Adam Frandsen 0-3, Levi Brennamen 0-1, Brandon Maassen 1-2, Jake Barstow 1-3, Chris Sibley 1-3, Andy Bemis 0-2.

3B — Merzlak. RBIs — Merzlak 2, Emanuel, Pappas.

Game 2

Helena    100    100    1    —    3    3    2

Kalispell    011    000    0    —    2    3    1

Jack Shevalier, Koby Griffin (7) and Carter Pappas. Justin Wallace, Chris Sibley (3)and Adam Frandsen. W — Griffin. L — Sibley.

HELENA — Troy Arntson 1-4, Nick Wrigg 0-2, Brad Tiefenthaler 0-3, Zach Merzlak 1-3, Eric Emanuel 0-2, Tristan Shea 1-3, Joe Spradlin 0-0, Carter Pappas 0-3, Koby Griffin0-1.

Kalispell — Walker Malmin 0-3 Levi Brennamen 1-3, Justin Rich 0-3, Adam Frandsen 1-3, Brandon Maassen 0-3, Jake Barstow 1-2, Chris Sibley 0-2, Andy Bemis 0-2, Colton Wiley 0-2.

2B — Arntson. Frandsen. RBIs — Tiefenthaler, Spradlin, Arntson. Frandsen.