Griz drop two as Razorback Invitational opens

Friday, February 21

Fayetteville, Ark.

9 AM (MT)

Montana

5-6

South Dakota State

5-5

South Dakota State

Montana

2/21/2020 4:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana softball team opened the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., on Friday with losses to South Dakota State and Boston University.

The Grizzlies (5-7) lost to the Jackrabbits 5-2, with SDSU scoring four times in the fifth on back-to-back home runs to overcome an early Montana lead.

The Grizzlies lost to the Terriers 3-2, with the winning run coming across in the top of the seventh. The game ended with two on for Montana in the bottom of the seventh.

The Grizzlies grabbed what would be their only lead of the day in the bottom of the first against the Jackrabbits.

Cami Sellers and Maygen McGrath had back-to-back one-out doubles, with Jessica McAlister bringing in Sellers with a sacrifice fly.

Starter Tristin Achenbach had five strikeouts after two, six after three before South Dakota State got to her for a run in the top of the fourth, on a two-out walk and double to left-center.

South Dakota State broke the game open in the fifth, with a three-run home run followed by a solo shot four pitches later to make it 5-1.

McGrath led off the bottom of the sixth with her team- and Big Sky-leading fourth home run for the game's final run.

Ashley Ward pitched the final 2 2/3 innings in relief of Achenbach, who had seven strikeouts. Ward allowed two hits while striking out one.

McGrath, who also singled to finish 3 for 3, had three of Montana's four hits.

The game between Montana and Boston University was a pitchers' battle between Michaela Hood and Ali DuBois.

Both threw complete games, with DuBois allowing six hits while striking out nine. Hood gave up eight hits while striking out seven.

Both teams had just two hits going into the sixth inning, when the Terriers opened the scoring, going up 2-0 on a double to center.

Montana answered right back, scoring twice in the bottom half of the inning.

Kylie Becker had a one-out infield single. She scored on a double to center by Sellers.

Kendall Curtis advanced pinch runner Kyle Hayton to third with a pinch-hit single to right. Hayton would tie it on a fielder's choice off the bat of Jessica McAlister.

Hood set down the first two batters she faced in the top of the seventh but then issued a walk that would prove costly. The Terriers followed with a single to right and an infield single to take the lead.

McKenna Tjaden had a one-out pinch-hit single in the bottom of the seventh, and the Grizzlies later had two on with two outs for Sellers. The game ended on a pop-up to third.

Montana will face No. 23 Arkansas at 1:30 p.m. (MT) and Marist at 6 p.m. (MT) on Saturday before facing South Dakota State for a second time on Sunday morning.