The Glacier softball team swept seventh-seeded Missoula Hellgate in a best-of-three Western Division playoff series on Thursday at Kidsports Complex to reclaim a spot at the Class AA state tournament and keep its title defense roaring.

The Wolfpack (18-5) got off to a slow start in both games, eventually getting the bats moving late in each contest to win 9-1 and 11-1, ending the latter in six innings.

Hellgate took an early advantage in each game, scoring first both times.

In the opener, Knights junior Katie Packard reached base on a single and rounded to third on an errant throw. She scored in the next at bat, when a grounder to second base that would’ve been the final out of the inning was thrown wide, allowing Packard to sneak home on the error.

Glacier responded in the next inning, reaching four consecutive batters, the last on a fielder’s choice, to tie the game at 1-1.

The Wolfpack batters couldn’t shake the tie until the fifth inning. Glacier led off the bottom of the frame with two singles and a walk and junior Erin McHugh took advantage of batting behind Glacier star Ali Williams, who was walked in six of her nine plate appearances.

McHugh knocked in two runs with a double to open the floodgates. Alivia Atlee, who had a remarkable day at the plate, singled in the next at bat to up the Glacier lead to 5-1 and chase the Hellgate pitcher out of the circle.

The two combined again in the next inning to blow the game out, McHugh with an RBI single and Atlee with a three-run home run to cap the scoring at 9-1.

McHugh was 2 for 3 with three RBIs in the contest and Atlee 2 for three with five RBIs.

Williams had 11 strikeouts while allowing just the one hit in the win.

As the ominous rain clouds over the first game turned into a full-blown downpour throughout the second, Glacier again struggled to get the bats moving early.

Hellgate again scored the first run, this time in the second inning on another error after the first hit of the game. Williams struck out the side to shut down any momentum the Knights built, but it would be a few innings before the Glacier offense responded.

The Wolfpack reached two on walks in the fourth inning when McHugh singled in a run to tie the game. Atlee followed in the next at bat with a double, scoring two more runs and giving Glacier the lead, later scoring herself on a wild pitch.

Atlee doubled in three more runs the next inning and after the Wolfpack led the sixth off with a pair of hits, junior Emma Shew cleared the bases with a two-run home run.

Meg Hornby would score later in the inning to stretch the Wolfpack advantage to 11-1.

Williams shut down the side in the bottom of the sixth, striking out three straight batters after a leadoff single.

“I think we started off a little bit slower than we wanted to,” Williams said. “Once we got going, I think everybody got the bats going and we were doing pretty good. We’re all just super excited to go to state, have it be in our hometown. We’re all pretty excited for that.”

The win secures Glacier the second seed out of the Western at next weekend’s state tournament at Conrad Complex. The Wolfpack will open play against Eastern third seed Billings West, which swept Butte on Thursday.

“They know going forward, from here on out, we’re going to have close games,” Glacier coach Andy Fors said.

“Regardless of the situation, they have to fight all the way through. I think they showed that toughness down the stretch today. That’s good for us.

“The girls are really excited, first off that we’re fortunate to make it to the state tournament again, but also to have it here in Kalispell. That’s a pretty neat opportunity. They’re ready to go. A little bit of hometown pride, being able to defend their own turf, they’re excited.”

Hellgate 001 000 0 ­— 1 1 3

Glacier 001 044 x — 9 10 1

Allison High, H. Green (6) and Dusty Calouri. Ali Williams and Christine Connolly. W—Williams. L—High.

HELLGATE — Elise Marquardt 0-3, Sierrah Hardy 0-3, Callie McKillop 0-3, Korey Waletzko 0-3, Maiti Anderson 0-3, High 0-2, Kylie Lunday 0-2, Calouri 0-2, Katie Packard 1-2.

GLACIER — Williams 1-2, Erin McHugh 2-3, Alivia Atlee 2-3, Anna Schrade 0-3, Christine Connolly 0-3, Sarah Frandsen 0-1, Serra Monroe 0-2, Sarah Stern 1-1, Emma Shew 0-3, Meg Hornby 2-3, Christina DuFour 2-3.

2B—Williams, McHugh. HR—Atlee. RBIs—McHugh 3, Atlee 5.

Glacier 000 434 — 11 11 1

Hellgate 010 000 — 1 2 2

Ali Williams and Christine Connolly. Allison High, Callie McKillop (4) and Dusty Calouri. W—Williams. L—High.

GLACIER — Williams 1-1, Erin McHugh 1-5, Alivia Atlee 2-3, Anna Schrade 2-5, Connolly 1-3, Sarah Stern 0-3, Emma Shew 1-3, Meg Hornby 2-2, Christina DuFour 1-4.

HELLGATE — Elise Marquardt 1-3, Sierrah Hardy 0-2, McKillop 0-3, Maiti Anderson 1-3, Korey Waletzko 1-2, High 0-2, Green 0-2, Calouri 0-2, Katie Packard 0-2.

2B—Atlee 2, Connolly. Anderson. HR—Shew. RBIs—McHugh 1, Atlee 6, Stern 1.