Griz conclude fall season with pair of wins

The Montana softball team concluded its eight-game fall exhibition schedule with a pair of wins over North Idaho on Sunday at Grizzly Softball Field in Missoula.

Montana scored 11 runs through the first three innings on its way to a 13-2 win in Game 1. In Game 2, Ashley Ward and Tristin Achenbach held the Cardinals to two hits and struck out 11 in a 9-0 shutout.

The wins came 24 hours after posting 30-0 and 36-0 victories against an overmatched Columbia Basin team on Saturday.

It didn't take long for Sunday to take on a more competitive feel. North Idaho used a walk and a double in the top of the first in the opener to put a pair of runners on against Montana starter Michaela Hood.

The Cardinals didn't score, but they did in the top of the second, pounding out back-to-back doubles to cut Montana's early lead to 2-1.

Montana's offense was too much for North Idaho's pitchers on Sunday, but the Cardinals' defense, particularly the infield, was solid, their hitters more up to the challenge than the Hawks on Saturday.

"North Idaho has always had quality athletes, and it's a program that demands they compete at a very high level," said Montana coach Melanie Meuchel.

"I have a lot of respect for their program and for what they do over there."

Leading just 2-1 entering the bottom of the second, Montana scored four in the second, five in the third to pull away.

Katie Pippel had a two-run double in the second, Kylie Becker a two-run double in the third.

"The thing I like about this team is that if we get challenged, we rise to the challenge that has been presented to us," said Meuchel.

"We had a week in which we put them through the grind in practice, and we had to come out and play on the weekend. Our players responded really well."

Kendall Curtis, a freshman, went 4 for 4, as did Brooklyn Weisgram. Curtis would add a home run in Game 2 while looking not at all like a first-year player.

"It took a little bit of time being away from home and having school, but now that I'm here, I'm super confident and enjoying every second of it," she said.

"It's been a dream come true. I've wanted to do this since I was in the seventh grade. Now that I'm here, it's super exciting."

Lexi Knauss started all 56 games at second base last spring and had a breakout sophomore season. She batted .284 and had 18 extra-base hits while driving in 22 runs.

But she missed all eight games this fall, opening the door for Curtis to get more time at second base than she would have otherwise.

"We have a lot of depth and we have players pushing each other to be better players," said Meuchel. "They are making it very difficult to pick a starting nine.

"Every day they show up and put a lot of pressure -- good pressure -- on getting things done and making sure everyone is focused so days don't slip away."

After overpowering Columbia Basin on Saturday, Tristin Achenbach kept it up on Sunday. She threw the final two innings in Game 1 in relief of Hood and faced the minimum six batters, three of which she struck out.

She relieved Ward in Game 2, pitching the sixth and seventh innings. She struck out four of the seven batters she faced.

"I was locating the ball and had a little spin on it that made it a little harder to hit, hopefully," she said.

"Our team chemistry right now is really good. There is just a good vibe. It lets me know everybody behind me is confident and wants the ball, and that allows me to do my thing.

"It's nice when you have a lot of people who want to compete and do well and have the person next to them do well."

Ward allowed a leadoff double to open Game 2 and another leadoff double as North Idaho led off the top of the third. But those would be the only hits she allowed in five innings. She set down the other 15 batters she faced while striking out seven.

Becker got Montana going in the bottom of the second when she came up with the bases loaded and two outs in what was still a 1-0 game.

She ripped a triple to right-center and scored to make it a four-run at-bat when the throw to make a play on her at third got away. Just like that it was a 5-0 game.

Montana scored two in the third, two more in the fourth on Curtis's two-run home run to left-center, and that was more than enough for Ward and Achenbach.

The Grizzlies come out of the fall having averaged nearly 20 runs per game while allowing just three in eight games.

It's not the level of competition they'll face in the spring, not even close, but it's a start, as the fall season always is.

"I like the way we look in the box and the way we look on defense and the way the pitchers are attacking the zone," said Meuchel.

"They play with a lot of passion and with a lot of excitement for each other. They play to get the outcome they want."

Montana will open its regular-season schedule the second weekend of February.

University of Montana Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Tristin Achenbach

Kylie Becker

Michaela Hood

Lexi Knauss

Katie Pippel

Brooklyn Weisgram

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