Montana falls to North Dakota

Sunday, March 10

Fresno, Calif.

10:00 AM (MT)

Montana

5-20

North Dakota

11-13

North Dakota

Montana

3/10/2019 2:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana softball team lost 6-2 to North Dakota on Sunday morning as the Bulldog Classic in Fresno, Calif., came to a close.

It put an end to the Grizzlies' season-opening gauntlet of 25 road games over five weekends, all by air travel, and turns the focus to next weekend, when Montana plays its first home games.

The Grizzlies are scheduled to play a three-game series at Grizzly Softball Field against Utah Valley, with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. and a single game on Sunday, also at 1 p.m.

That series will kick off nine straight home games for Montana, which hosts Nevada the following week, then opens its Big Sky Conference schedule at home against Idaho State the final weekend of March.

"That's going to add some life, knowing we're going to be able to sleep in our own beds for more than a few days at a time," said coach Melanie Meuchel.

"And then there is the excitement and the support our fans will bring. The players are pretty excited to get home and compete in front of their fans."

North Dakota (11-13) didn't waste any time getting on the scoreboard on Sunday, using a two-out, two-run home run in the top of the first to take an early 2-0 lead.

Michaela Hood got the start for Montana and lasted just 28 pitches and 2/3 of an inning. She was replaced by Maddy Stensby in the top of the first after allowing threw walks and a home run.

Hood took the loss to drop to 0-6.

Montana (5-20) put two on in the bottom of the first, three more in the bottom of the second but didn't score in either inning.

North Dakota made it 4-0 in the third on an RBI double and RBI single.

Montana broke through in the fourth, making it 4-1 on a Lexi Knauss single down the right-field line that scored Kylie Hayton.

The Grizzlies scored again in the fifth, making it 5-2, when Jessica McAlister reached base on an infield error. Maddy Stensby scored on the play.

The Fighting Hawks scored their final run in the seventh.

Cami Sellers had three of Montana's five hits for her sixth multiple-hit game of the season. Knauss and Brooklyn Weisgram had the other hits.

After opening the Bulldog Classic with a 5-0 victory over UC Santa Barbara on Friday afternoon, Montana dropped its last four, getting outscored 30-3.

"We have gone through the long haul of travel and not being able to practice outside each week until game time. And we've been plagued a little bit by sickness. We've continued to battle, but it's all combined to bite us a little bit at times," said Meuchel.

"But we're competing. There is a lot left in this group. We're ready for the next phase sitting in front of us."