Softball returns from Davis with winning record

Sunday, February 14

Davis, Calif.

9:30 AM (MT)

Montana

3-2

Cal State Bakersfield

2-2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
CSU Bakersfield	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	4
Montana	3	2	2	0	1	8	10	0

Photo by: John Sieber

2/14/2016 3:38:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

Montana returns from the UC Davis Invitational in Davis, California with a winning record for the first time in program history after getting revenge against Cal State Bakersfield Sunday morning.

Montana 8, Cal State Bakersfield 0

Montana's season got off to a rough start on Friday, giving up six runs in the first inning of an eventual 6-3 loss to Cal State Bakersfield.

The Grizzlies shutout the Roadrunners in the final five innings of Friday's contest, and Sara Stephenson kept that up Sunday, pitching a five-inning shutout. It was the second win of the weekend for Stephenson, who also earned a save.

She finished her 10 innings of work on the weekend with a .70 ERA after allowing just six hits. She walked only three batters while striking out nine on the weekend, including a two strikeout performance Sunday.

"We got a really good start out of Sara, she scattered only five hits in five innings," coach Jamie Pinkerton said. "The defense made plays for her, and the offense was really good and took advantage of all the opportunities Bakersfield presented them."

Stephenson got out of the first inning in less than ten pitches, and the offense gave her some support right away. After some errors in the field and pitching from Bakersfield, freshman Sydney Stites hit an RBI single. A throwing error on the play allowed Delene Colburn to cross home as well.

The middle of the line-up came back around and delivered in the second as well, with Mercedes Bourgeau and Colburn each hitting RBI singles to give Montana a 5-0 lead after the second.

Montana continued to pour in the runs in the third. The No. 9 hitter Gabby Martinez, who finished the weekend with a team best .438 average, ripped a triple into right-center to score a run. MaKenna McGill brought her home with a single on the next at-bat.

Martinez would earn another RBI in the fifth as Montana run-ruled Bakersfield after five innings of play. Stephenson pitched well, Montana committed zero errors and outhit the Roadrunners 10-5, a very successful recipe.

"When you're clicking on all three facets of the game, it becomes pretty easy to play," Pinkerton said.

Martinez, McGill and Bourgeau reaching base consistently is a major key for the Montana offense.

"When the top of the order can put pressure and allow Lexie and Del to see pitches, we become a dangerous team that can score runs," Pinkerton said. "It's important for MaKenna and Mercedes, and Gabby as well she had a big game today, when you can set the table for the middle of the line-up we become a team that can score runs in bunches."

The Grizzlies will head back to Missoula with a winning record, 3-2, for the first time in program history. After practicing for only a few hours outside before making the trip to Davis, Pinkerton was very pleased with his team's performance.

"For being outside no more than we've been out and to be able to work on some things defensively I thought, yes we made some mistakes and they cost us, but looking at the big picture with the disadvantage of us not seeing live pitching or live defensive situations much I thought we played as well as could be expected," Pinkerton said.

A couple errors may have cost the Grizzlies, but the effort put forth by Montana can never be questioned.

"If we make a play here or there, make a pitch here or there and get a hit here or there, it's always ifs and buts, but we could have been 5-0," Pinkerton said. "I'm pleased with their efforts they played hard, they always play hard."