Saturday, March 18
Missoula, Mont.
1:15 PM
Montana
11-15
10
vs
1
Maine
3-16
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Maine
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
4
Montana
6
3
0
1
X
10
4
0
Griz sweep as bats come to life
3/18/2017 8:01:00 PM | Softball
The Montana softball team had 11 extra-base hits and posted a pair of run-rule wins on Saturday afternoon on day two of the Grizzly Classic at Grizzly Softball Field in Missoula, defeating Maine 10-1 and Seattle 12-4.
"This is kind of what we've been the last couple years at home," said UM coach Jamie Pinkerton. "This is what I like to see. Maybe we're coming around a little bit."
Colleen Driscoll gave up just two hits in the opener in the five-inning win. Montana used four Maine errors, four walks and two hit batters to score 10 runs on just four hits.
It was in the second game, against Seattle starter Andie Larkins, who one-hit the Grizzlies last month in California, when the fun really started.
After falling behind 4-2 in the top of the third, Montana scored two in the bottom half of the inning to tie it, then added four in the fourth to chase Larkins and four more in the sixth to win it.
The wins came a day after splitting on Friday, with a 7-4 loss to Maine that did not sit well with the Grizzlies, particularly junior shortstop Delene Colburn.
"Del made a comment when we left (our postgame huddle on Friday) that made me feel really good about the psyche of the team," said Pinkerton, whose team has branded its home field. "She said nobody is coming into the Den tomorrow and winning.
"That's easy to say, but for them to come in and back it up makes me feel like we have some leadership stepping forward. They really turned it on today."
In Saturday's opener, Driscoll gave up a solo home run in the top of the first to Alyssa Derrick, one of only two hits surrendered by the six-foot sophomore. The Black Bears' lead would be short-lived.
Four of Montana's first five batters in the bottom half of the inning reached base by walk or by getting hit. Madison Saacke, six batters into the lineup, got the Grizzlies' first hit. She cleared the bases with a double to right center.
After another walk, Gabby Martinez made it 6-0 with a triple into the gap in right center, the second three-bagger of her career. Montana finished the inning with six runs on just two hits.
"Even though we didn't have a lot of hits in the first game, we took advantage of what was given to us by walks and miscues," said Pinkerton. "We did a nice job cashing in."
Montana scored three more, all unearned, in the second on just one hit, courtesy of a pair of errors on Maine's infielders.
That was plenty of support for Driscoll, who only allowed one base runner in the middle three innings. She gave up a single in the fifth, but it didn't lead to anything.
"I wouldn't say (working with a big lead) gave me more confidence, but it allowed me to relax and hit my pitches better. I was able to pitch to where they could make bad contact and let my defense work for me," said Driscoll.
Montana and Seattle met in the day's final game, both coming off energizing wins over Maine. The Redhawks scored four in the bottom of the seventh to defeat the Black Bears 6-5 in Saturday's opener.
Colburn, she of the boast about no visiting team stepping foot on her team's home field and leaving with a victory, put the Grizzlies up 2-0 in the first when her double down the left-field line scored Anne Mari Petrino, who in now batting leadoff in place of MaKenna McGill, and Bethany Olea.
After getting through the first two innings unscathed, Montana starter Maddy Stensby got roughed up in the third. The first four batters all reached base safely, which sent Pinkerton to the mound to bring in Michaela Hood.
Hood hit the first batter she faced to make it 2-2 and later gave up a two-run single that put Seattle ahead 4-2.
Montana struck back immediately, tying the game 4-4 in the bottom of the third. With Olea on second and Colburn on first, Saacke came through again with a two-out double to right center, which scored the hustling Colburn from first.
Her next trip around the bases would be a little more leisurely. And quite satisfying.
After Hood shut down the Redhawks in the top of the fourth, Sydney Stites, who had a walk-off double against Larkins in Friday's 4-3 win over Seattle, tripled home Martinez to give the Grizzlies a lead they would never give back.
With two outs and Stites at third, and with Olea and her nearly .400 batting average at the plate, Seattle coach Geoff Hirai made the decision to put Olea on first with a rare intentional walk.
"I understand the strategy. Beth is hitting close to .400 this year. They know she's a contact hitter, and it was still a one-run game at that point," said Pinkerton.
It wouldn't be for long. The free pass brought up Colburn, who can't recall ever having the batter in front of her being put on base intentionally.
"I don't think that's ever happened to me before. I didn't take it lightly," said Colburn, who made it 8-4 with a prodigious, no-doubt-about-it three-run blast over the left-field fence. "(The trip around the bases) was really nice. I loved every minute of it."
Larkins would finish the fourth, but she was replaced before Montana came to the plate in the fifth.
"We knew what she was going to have, so we prepared all week for it," said Colburn. "We made adjustments, and it worked out for us."
With Hood, who earned the win to improve to 4-2, cruising, Montana ended the game a half inning early, scoring four in the bottom of the sixth to make it 12-4.
Colburn, who also played stellar defense, as did her infield teammates against a quick Seattle lineup, drove in the first run of the inning, her sixth RBI of the game. Ashlyn Lyons doubled down the right-field line to score another, and Dani Walker finished it with a double off the left-field fence.
"We still have a long way to go, but I like the way we attacked the ball today," said Pinkerton. "We kind of snapped out of it. We've had games this season where we hit the ball but I don't think as well as we hit the ball today."
Montana will get one more game against both teams on Sunday, facing Maine at 10:30 a.m., Seattle at 12:45 p.m.
"This is kind of what we've been the last couple years at home," said UM coach Jamie Pinkerton. "This is what I like to see. Maybe we're coming around a little bit."
Colleen Driscoll gave up just two hits in the opener in the five-inning win. Montana used four Maine errors, four walks and two hit batters to score 10 runs on just four hits.
It was in the second game, against Seattle starter Andie Larkins, who one-hit the Grizzlies last month in California, when the fun really started.
After falling behind 4-2 in the top of the third, Montana scored two in the bottom half of the inning to tie it, then added four in the fourth to chase Larkins and four more in the sixth to win it.
The wins came a day after splitting on Friday, with a 7-4 loss to Maine that did not sit well with the Grizzlies, particularly junior shortstop Delene Colburn.
"Del made a comment when we left (our postgame huddle on Friday) that made me feel really good about the psyche of the team," said Pinkerton, whose team has branded its home field. "She said nobody is coming into the Den tomorrow and winning.
"That's easy to say, but for them to come in and back it up makes me feel like we have some leadership stepping forward. They really turned it on today."
In Saturday's opener, Driscoll gave up a solo home run in the top of the first to Alyssa Derrick, one of only two hits surrendered by the six-foot sophomore. The Black Bears' lead would be short-lived.
Four of Montana's first five batters in the bottom half of the inning reached base by walk or by getting hit. Madison Saacke, six batters into the lineup, got the Grizzlies' first hit. She cleared the bases with a double to right center.
After another walk, Gabby Martinez made it 6-0 with a triple into the gap in right center, the second three-bagger of her career. Montana finished the inning with six runs on just two hits.
"Even though we didn't have a lot of hits in the first game, we took advantage of what was given to us by walks and miscues," said Pinkerton. "We did a nice job cashing in."
Montana scored three more, all unearned, in the second on just one hit, courtesy of a pair of errors on Maine's infielders.
That was plenty of support for Driscoll, who only allowed one base runner in the middle three innings. She gave up a single in the fifth, but it didn't lead to anything.
"I wouldn't say (working with a big lead) gave me more confidence, but it allowed me to relax and hit my pitches better. I was able to pitch to where they could make bad contact and let my defense work for me," said Driscoll.
Montana and Seattle met in the day's final game, both coming off energizing wins over Maine. The Redhawks scored four in the bottom of the seventh to defeat the Black Bears 6-5 in Saturday's opener.
Colburn, she of the boast about no visiting team stepping foot on her team's home field and leaving with a victory, put the Grizzlies up 2-0 in the first when her double down the left-field line scored Anne Mari Petrino, who in now batting leadoff in place of MaKenna McGill, and Bethany Olea.
After getting through the first two innings unscathed, Montana starter Maddy Stensby got roughed up in the third. The first four batters all reached base safely, which sent Pinkerton to the mound to bring in Michaela Hood.
Hood hit the first batter she faced to make it 2-2 and later gave up a two-run single that put Seattle ahead 4-2.
Montana struck back immediately, tying the game 4-4 in the bottom of the third. With Olea on second and Colburn on first, Saacke came through again with a two-out double to right center, which scored the hustling Colburn from first.
Her next trip around the bases would be a little more leisurely. And quite satisfying.
After Hood shut down the Redhawks in the top of the fourth, Sydney Stites, who had a walk-off double against Larkins in Friday's 4-3 win over Seattle, tripled home Martinez to give the Grizzlies a lead they would never give back.
With two outs and Stites at third, and with Olea and her nearly .400 batting average at the plate, Seattle coach Geoff Hirai made the decision to put Olea on first with a rare intentional walk.
"I understand the strategy. Beth is hitting close to .400 this year. They know she's a contact hitter, and it was still a one-run game at that point," said Pinkerton.
It wouldn't be for long. The free pass brought up Colburn, who can't recall ever having the batter in front of her being put on base intentionally.
"I don't think that's ever happened to me before. I didn't take it lightly," said Colburn, who made it 8-4 with a prodigious, no-doubt-about-it three-run blast over the left-field fence. "(The trip around the bases) was really nice. I loved every minute of it."
Larkins would finish the fourth, but she was replaced before Montana came to the plate in the fifth.
"We knew what she was going to have, so we prepared all week for it," said Colburn. "We made adjustments, and it worked out for us."
With Hood, who earned the win to improve to 4-2, cruising, Montana ended the game a half inning early, scoring four in the bottom of the sixth to make it 12-4.
Colburn, who also played stellar defense, as did her infield teammates against a quick Seattle lineup, drove in the first run of the inning, her sixth RBI of the game. Ashlyn Lyons doubled down the right-field line to score another, and Dani Walker finished it with a double off the left-field fence.
"We still have a long way to go, but I like the way we attacked the ball today," said Pinkerton. "We kind of snapped out of it. We've had games this season where we hit the ball but I don't think as well as we hit the ball today."
Montana will get one more game against both teams on Sunday, facing Maine at 10:30 a.m., Seattle at 12:45 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Driscoll, Colleen (3-4)
L: Flowers, Molly (1-7)
Batting:
HR: Derrick, Alyssa 1
RBI: Derrick, Alyssa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Derrick, Alyssa 1
Batting:
2B: Saacke, Madison 1
3B: Martinez, Gabby 1
RBI: Lyons, Ashlyn 2 ; Saacke, Madison 4 ; Lettus, Tori 1 ; Martinez, Gabby 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Petrino, Anne Mari 1 ; Olea, Bethany 3 ; Colburn, Delene 2 ; Lyons, Ashlyn 2 ; Saacke, Madison 1 ; Wardlow, Alex 1
HBP: Petrino, Anne Mari 1 ; Stites, Sydney 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
3
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
4
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballC/INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
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