Finley Montgomery Throws No-Hitter as Denton Guyer Edges Byron Nelson 1-0 in Game 1

A pitching duel between Denton Guyer and Byron Nelson came down to the final inning, with the Wildcats emerging with a 1-0 victory in Game 1 of their best-of-three playoff series.

Finley Montgomery dominated from the circle for Guyer. The Notre Dame-bound senior struck out the side in the second inning, setting the tone for what would become a masterful performance. Through three innings, neither team could break through, with Byron Nelson shortstop McKenna Cleary making a strong defensive play in the third, fielding a grounder with the infield pulled in and throwing home to easily retire a Guyer runner at third base.

Montgomery continued her dominance, striking out the side again in the fifth inning as Byron Nelson struggled to generate any offensive momentum. In the seventh, she struck out all three batters she faced to complete a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts total.

With two runners on in the bottom of the seventh, Madison Joyner delivered the game-winning hit, a single up the middle that gave Guyer the walk-off victory and a 1-0 lead in the series.