KALISPELL — Butte High got back to the win column Friday.

The Bulldogs opened their weekend trip to Kalispell with a 4-1 win over Kalispell Glacier in a Western AA softball game. (Boxscore)

Butte High used solid pitching by Ashlinn Mullaney, a two-run home run by Rian Ferriter and some clutch defense to pull out the win that lifted the Bulldogs to 4-2 in conference and 4-6 overall.

Butte High coach Ryan Stosich said the Bulldogs had their chances to blow the game open, but he was not going to dwell on the negative after a road conference win.

“We left 12 runners on base,” Stosich said. “We’ve got to obviously hit with runners on. But Rian Ferriter hit a two-run bomb that got us a little bit of a cushion.”

Glacier took a 1-0 lead in the second when Emma Cooke hit a one-out solo home run.

The Bulldogs tied the game in the third when leadoff hitter Kodie Hoagland drew a walk, stole a base and scored on a wild pitch. Butte took the lead the next inning when Bryn Godbout singled in Dacelyn Lafond.

In the fifth, Ferriter followed a single by Mullaney with a blast to center field.

The Wolfpack made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh. Cook reached on an error before Brooklyn Imperato was hit by a pitch.

“We got a huge double play in the bottom of the seventh,” Stosich said.

Butte third baseman Kamber Leary snagged a hard liner by Paishance Haller. Then she threw to first to double up Imperato.

The next batter, Teagan Powell, hit a hard shot that found Godbout’s mitt at second.

“She made a nice reaching catch for the final out,” Stosich said. “Otherwise, it might have gotten a little interesting.”

Mullaney, a freshman, pitched the distance in the win. She struck out five and did not issue a walk.

Leary doubled, and Hoagland, Madisyn Swanson, LaFond, Godbout, Mullaney and Brityn Stewart singled in the win. Hoagland, Mullaney, Lafond, Godbout and Jordyn Bolton drew walks for Butte High.

Stosich pointed out that this was the first win for Butte High in Kalispell in several years. He said the long drive always makes the games more difficult.

“It’s a tough trip,” the coach said. “We’re sure happy to come away with a win.”

Butte High will stay in Kalispell to take on Flathead on Saturday.