COLUMBIA FALLS — On the Wildkats’ senior day, hits were hard to come by for both the Frenchtown Broncs and Columbia Falls, as the Northwestern A contest featured just one earned run, resulting in a 4-2 road victory for the Broncs.

Columbia Falls ace Ashley Trueblood went pitch- for-pitch with Frenchtown flame-thrower Morgan Ray. They combined for 21 strikeouts in the contest.

“I felt pretty strong,” Trueblood said.

“I had a great team to back me up. (Morgan) is a tough batter and a talented player. All we really wanted to do was come out and play hard and I think we did that today.”

Trueblood struck out 10 batters in seven innings, while Ray struck out 11 Wildkats and didn’t allow a walk.

The Wildkats (8-13 overall) took the lead in the second inning when Carlee Brown’s sacrifice bunt was overthrown to first base, allowing Breanna Friar, who reached on an error, to score from second.

Pinch-runner Kaitlyn Hoerner, running for Trueblood, scored from third on another sac bunt, this time from senior catcher Courtney Murray, giving Columbia Falls a 2-1 lead.

“We put the bat on the ball,” Wildkat head coach Dave Kehr said.

“We put some pressure on them, but they’re a tough team. It was a great game.”

Ray settled down after the Wildkats’ two-run second inning, holding them scoreless for the rest of the contest, striking out the side in both the fifth and sixth inning.

“I was feeling pretty warm today,” Ray said.

“Our team had a few errors in the field, myself included. Our bats weren’t as hot as they have been, and they’re a really good team, so it was nice to see some competition like this before the state tournament.”

The game’s only earned run, and extra base hit, came from Broncs right fielder Krista Hebnes’ RBI double in Frenchtown’s three-run fourth inning. Third baseman Keegan Wickman scored on the play after singling to start the rally and Frenchtown controlled the 4-2 lead.

“We found a way,” Frenchtown head coach Eli Field said.

“We produced runs on the bases and took advantage of all our opportunities. Ashley threw a really good game. She kept us off balance and moved the ball well. You’re not supposed to score with a good pitcher like that.”

When it was all said and done, Frenchtown collected six hits while Columbia Falls had three.

Frenchtown (19-1) heads into the postseason with the best record in Class A and is a favorite to take home the state title.

The Wildkats didn’t qualify for the postseason tournament. Seniors Tiffany Hummer, Lauren Fields, Amanda Morrison and Murray took their final at bats in Columbia Falls’ colors.

“It’s a good group, a fun group to be with,” Kehr said.

“They’ve come such a long way in the game. They’re going to be hard to replace.”

Frenchtown          100       300      0     —     4     6     4

Columbia Falls      020      000      0     —     2     3     6

Morgan Ray and Brooke Yarnall. Ashley Trueblood and Courtney Murray. W — Ray. L — Trueblood.

FRENCHTOWN — Kayla Blood 0-3, Josie Anderson 0-4, Morgan Ray 1-2, Vanessa Stavish 0-4, Keegan Wickman 1-4, Krista Hebnes 2-2, Brooke Yarnall 2-3, Kaylee Prather 0-3, Emma Pyron 0-3.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Tiffany Hummer 0-4, Winter Kemppainen 0-3, Peyton Kehr 0-4, Breanna Friar 1-3, Ashley Trueblood 1-3, Carlee Brown 1-3, Courtney Murray 0-2, Amanda Morrison 0-3, Lauren Fields 0-2, Alysha Cantu 0-1.

2B — Hebnes. RBIs — Hebnes.