It was the definition of a pitcher’s duel.

Glacier’s Ali Williams and Frenchtown’s Morgan Ray each struck out the side in the first inning and combined for 26 strikeouts during Tuesday’s nonconference matchup at Kidsport Complex.

Small ball ultimately won out for the Broncs (7-0 overall, 1-0 league), who pushed two across in the sixth inning on their way to a 3-1 victory.

“We went into this game knowing it was a great opportunity to play a very good team,” Glacier coach Andy Fors said. “Anytime we can see a pitcher, defense and hitting team like that, it just helps us on our path towards our goals.”

It was the two-time defending state champion Broncs who flinched first.

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, senior second baseman Kayleena Ikeda launched an opposite-field home run, belting Ray’s 0-2 pitch over the right-field fence to break a scoreless tie.

“The fact that Kayleena would step in there with the mindset that she can hit, it definitely showed,” Fors said. “I didn’t see many of our girls back down today. I thought we swung the bat very hard. Morgan Ray is a great pitcher. It was good for our team to see her. I think some of that confidence showed up a little bit, but we couldn’t come up with that hit when we needed it.”

The Wolfpack (10-2, 5-1) stranded four runners on base, all in scoring position. In the bottom of the third, Katie Wiley ripped a shot down the right-field line which rolled out of play for a ground-rule double, halting Sarah Stern at third. Ray went on to retire the side.

In the fifth, a dropped third strike, fielding error and passed ball put two more Glacier runners at second and third. Once again, Ray remained poised and sent down the next two batters to end the inning.

“Overall, I thought our offense did a decent job of getting girls on base. We had opportunities to score,” Fors said. “We couldn’t come up with that timely hit. We put ourselves in a position to make things happen and just couldn’t quite convert today.”

Frenchtown’s bats were nugatory until the sixth inning. Trailing 1-0, the Broncs had recorded just one hit with two innings to play — a double by Ray to lead off the game.

Ray earned her second hit of the game in sixth. After a walk to Emma Pyron, Brooke Yarnall knocked a base hit up the middle, scoring Ray from second. Krista Hebnes bunted in the next at-bat. Pyron ran home after the throw to first base, sliding just underneath Christine Connolly’s tag at the plate. Just like that, Frenchtown had their first lead of the game.

Ray struck out four of the last six batters she faced, sending the Wolfpack down in order for the win, while the Broncs pushed one more across in the seventh on another fielder’s choice RBI. This time it was Shelby Shourds who scored from third on another close play at the plate.

“Frenchtown did a great job converting in those small ball situations. We were close on a couple of plays there we just barely missed it. It’s just something to take a step back and look at and clean it up moving forward,” Fors said.

Ray gave up three hits and struck out 16 on 112 pitches. Her counterpart, Williams, allowed four hits on 84 pitches, striking out 10.

Glacier faces another ace on Thursday. Macey Newberry and Missoula Big Sky take on the Wolfpack at Kidsports Complex at 3 p.m. Glacier then plays host to Missoula Sentinel at 5.

Frenchtown     000     002     1     —     3     4     1

Glacier    000    100    0    —    1    3    0

Morgan Ray and Brooke Yarnall. Ali Williams and Christine Connolly. W — Ray. L — Williams.

FRENCHTOWN — Ray 2-3, Emma Pyron 0-2, Yarnall 1-2, Krista Hebnes 0-2, Haley Cyr 0-3, Shelby Shourds 1-3, Laci Willet 0-2, Alli Moe 0-2, Taylor Rockwood 0-1, Allie Hochhalter 0-3.

GLACIER — Christina DuFour 0-3, Kayla Russell 0-3, Ali Williams 0-3, Erin McHugh 0-3, Mackenzie Brester-Knight 0-3, Kayleena Ikeda 1-3, Ali Newton 0-1, Alivia Atlee 0-2, Connolly 1-3, Katie Wiley 1-3.

2B — Ray, Shourds; Wiley. HR — Ikeda. RBIs — Yarnall, Hebnes, Willet; Ikeda.