Ducks shut out Grizzlies

Sunday, March 11

Eugene, Ore.

1PM (MT)

Montana

7-17

Oregon

22-4

Montana

Oregon

3/11/2018 4:08:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

One day after being no-hit by Oregon's Megan Kleist, the Montana softball team ran into another dominant right-handed pitcher for the Ducks.

Miranda Elish, who improved to 10-0, allowed one hit over seven innings to lead her team to a 7-0 victory over the Grizzlies on Sunday on the final day of the Oregon Duck Invitational in Eugene.

On Saturday night, in the Ducks' 6-0 victory, Kleist faced the minimum 21 batters and was one infield error from throwing a perfect game.

One day later, Elish faced 23 batters, allowing an infield single to Ashlyn Lyons in the fourth and a walk to Tori Lettus in the fifth while striking out 11.

"Oregon has always prided itself on pitching. They do very well. They are sixth in the country for a reason," said coach Melanie Meuchel.

"(Kleist and Elish) are different. They throw different pitches, but they have the same approach of attacking the zone to get ahead of you, then expanding. When they're good, things look good, and you'll chase some things."

Michaela Hood got the start for Montana and gave up just one hit through the first two innings, but Oregon struck for two in the third on four hits.

Facing Maddy Stensby and Colleen Driscoll in the fifth, the Ducks added five more runs on five hits. Tristin Achenbach, pitching for the first time in nine days, threw a hit-less sixth.

"Anytime you can play with the best, it makes you understand where you need to be and what you do well," said Meuchel. "You see the numbers, but it felt like we played seven innings and competed and gave great effort today. I was proud of the way the kids played."

The game not only concluded Montana's road trip to Oregon, it capped the Grizzlies' five-week, 24-game start to the season, with tournaments in Phoenix, Tucson, Riverside, St. George and finally Eugene.

Montana will host Providence in a doubleheader at Grizzly Softball Field on Tuesday starting at 2 p.m., then face Utah Valley in single games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

First pitch between the Grizzlies and Wolverines will be at 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, noon on Saturday.

"I think we're more than ready to be home," said Meuchel. "They get put through the grind the first five weekends. They have a lot of demands placed on them, but they are resilient and tough.

"It will be nice for them to be rewarded by being home. We have a phenomenal fan base that our players thrive on playing in front of."

Montana's Big Sky Conference schedule will open the following weekend, when the Grizzlies travel to Pocatello to face Idaho State in a three-game series.