Griz knock off ranked Razorbacks

Saturday, February 22

Fayetteville, Ark.

1:30 PM (MT)

Montana

6-7

Arkansas

11-2

Montana

Arkansas

2/22/2020 9:31:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana softball team collected its first victory over a ranked opponent in program history on Saturday when the Grizzlies defeated No. 23 Arkansas on its home field in Fayetteville.

Montana scored five runs in the top of the first against the Razorbacks and that was enough for senior pitcher Michaela Hood, who threw a complete-game three-hitter as the Grizzlies won 5-0.

Montana, which fell 2-1 in 10 innings to No. 18 Texas Tech earlier this season, had been 0-14 against ranked opponents.

"I felt like our players were locked in and responded early against a very quality team," said coach Melanie Meuchel. "Michaela Hood and the defense behind her were phenomenal."

Montana struck early, scoring five runs on five hits in the top of the first off Arkansas freshman pitcher Jenna Bloom. Four of the Grizzlies' runs came with two outs.

Jessica McAlister opened the scoring with an RBI single. Kendall Curtis made it 3-0 with a two-run double, and Julie Phelps and Brooklyn Weisgram followed with run-scoring singles.

While it was a nice cushion for Hood, she was also going up against a team that entered the game 11-1 and on a 10-game winning streak, and an offense that was averaging more than eight runs per game.

"Having a lead definitely helps. Any pitcher would say that. On the back side of it, you have to have the focus on every pitch, because every hitter on that team can change the game for them," said Meuchel.

"They are a very stout team in their ability to overpower people. They have hitters who are very good, some of the best in the country, and their pitching is very dominant as well."

All Hood did was quiet those bats, inning after inning. She worked a perfect first and never ran into trouble after that, limiting Arkansas to three hits, all singles.

The Razorbacks had more than one runner on base just once, in the third inning following a one-out single and walk. Hood got out of it with a strikeout and first-pitch infield pop-up.

The base on balls in the third was the only walk given up by Hood.

She needed just 99 pitches to collect her 33rd complete game, her eighth career shutout. She finished the game with back-to-back strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh, giving her six for the game.

"Michaela just had a focus and a determination about her. She was pitch for pitch exactly where she wanted to be," said Meuchel.

"She was able to spot up and really control what she was doing with every hitter and really gave our defense a chance. I'm really proud of the players making plays behind her."

Montana followed with a 9-5 loss to Marist on Saturday evening.

The Grizzlies led 2-0 after two and took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth, but the Red Foxes erupted for eight runs on five hits, including a bases-loaded double and a grand slam.

McKenna Tjaden made it 2-0 in the second with a two-run home run, the second of her career, and Cami Sellers put Montana up 3-1 in the fifth with a solo shot, her second of the season, the 11th of her career.

Tristin Achenbach cruised through four innings but ran into trouble in the fifth. She hit the first batter of the inning, then gave up a single and a walk to load the bases.

A bases-clearing double gave Marist a lead it would never give back. The Red Foxes would add five more runs before Montana could get out of the inning.

Achenbach, Ashley Ward and Hood would all pitch in the bottom of the fifth.

Montana answered with two runs in the top of the sixth. Phelps had a sacrifice fly, and Weisgram followed with a single that scored Tjaden, who hit a one-out double.

The Grizzlies, who out-hit Marist, put two more on in the seventh but could not score. Sellers and Tjaden both had a pair of hits, as did Lexi Knauss.

Montana will face South Dakota State on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. (MT). The Jackrabbits defeated the Grizzlies 5-2 on Friday.