Montana handles Wichita State

Sunday, March 12

Tulsa, Okla.

10:00 AM (MT)

Montana

Wichita State

3/12/2017 4:23:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

Colleen Driscoll pitched five strong innings and Delene Colburn had the game-winning hit -- a two-out, two-run double in the third -- as Montana concluded the Golden Hurricane Classic in Tulsa, Okla., with a 3-1 victory over Wichita State on Sunday.

"All three facets clicked today, our hitting, our defense and our base-running, and we were able to beat a good Wichita State team," said coach Jamie Pinkerton, whose team went 2-2 at the tournament, with a 3-1 loss to Tulsa and 7-0 loss to No. 19 California.

"You take away the first inning against Tulsa and the sixth inning against Cal, and I thought we played exceptional softball. It's a good time of the year to start playing good softball."

Driscoll gave up back-to-back hits in the first inning, a single followed by a run-scoring double, but that was the only run she allowed. She gave up six hits and struck out four in her five innings of work to pick up her second win of the season.

Maddy Stensby gave up just one hit while pitching the sixth and seventh to collect her first save of the year.

"Colleen scattered hits and worked ahead in the count and really only ran into trouble in the first inning," said Pinkerton.

"What I really like about Colleen is that she is very aware of what she can and can't do. She's an unselfish pitcher. She came to us and said she thought someone else could finish better than she could, because she was starting to wear down a little. Stensby came in and threw two great innings."

Colburn put Montana (9-14) on the board in the top of the third. With McGill at second and two outs, Bethany Olea drew her team-leading 14th walk. Colburn followed with a doubl into the gap to make it 2-1.

That would be enough for Driscoll and Stensby, but Montana added one more in the top of the fifth.

With runners at first and third and two outs, Colburn coaxed a walk. On ball four, the Shockers tried to pick off Olea, who had a free pass to second base because of the walk.

MaKenna McGill made Wichita State (11-9) pay for its mistake by racing home to make it 3-1. "They lost track of the count. It was a heads-up play by MaKenna to run home," said Pinkerton.

Stensby allowed a runner in the sixth on a two-out single but forced a fly ball to end the inning. She worked a perfect seventh, facing just seven batters in her two innings of work.

After playing five road tournaments the first five weeks of the season, Montana will be home for its next 14 games, starting next weekend with the Grizzly Classic.

The Grizzlies will play a mid-week doubleheader against Boise State, then open league with home series against North Dakota and Southern Utah.

All games will be played at Grizzly Softball Field, where Montana is 23-11 the last two years.

"We come out of a very tough stretch only five games below .500," said Pinkerton. "We're a little road weary. I think everyone is ready to come home."

Seattle and Maine will kick off the Grizzly Classic on Friday at 11 a.m. Montana will face Seattle, which defeated the Grizzlies twice at Santa Clara's tournament last month, at 1:15 p.m. and Maine at 3:30 p.m.