Montana knocks off another Power 5 opponent

Saturday, February 29

Riverside, Calif.

10 AM (MT)

Montana

8-9

Nebraska-Omaha

9-8

Nebraska-Omaha

Montana

2/29/2020 7:16:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana softball team improved to 3-0 at the Amy S. Harrison Classic with a pair of wins on Saturday in Riverside, Calif.

The Grizzlies (9-9) rallied to defeat Nebraska-Omaha 6-5, then knocked off their second Power 5 opponent in as many Saturdays with a 6-0 blanking of Michigan State.

Montana defeated No. 23 Arkansas 5-0 last Saturday on the Razorbacks' home field.

That shutout came courtesy of Michaela Hood's right arm. Saturday's victory over Michigan State came from Tristin Achenbach, who threw a five-hitter while striking out six.

The Spartans had runners on base in each of the first four innings against Achenbach but stranded eight, including the bases loaded in the top of the fourth when Achenbach got an inning-ending pop-up.

She was perfect through the final three innings -- nine up, nine down -- and that gave Montana's hitters a chance to figure out Spartan starter Sarah Ladd, who held the Grizzlies to five hits through five innings.

That all changed in the sixth when Montana scored six runs on seven hits.

After McKenna Tjaden and Kendall Curtis singled to get on base, pinch hitter Ashley Ward made it 3-0 with her first career home run.

With two outs and a runner on, Cami Sellers extended the inning with a single to left. Maygen McGrath followed with a two-run triple to right-center that made it 5-0.

Morgan Johnson drove in McGrath for the game's final run with a double to right-center, her third hit of the game.

The win gave Achenbach her sixth victory of the season.

While Montana's win over Michigan State had a higher Q-rating, the Grizzlies' win over the Mavericks was just as impressive.

Nebraska-Omaha no-hit UC Riverside on Friday, a team Montana defeated 5-3, and also took down Michigan State.

The Grizzlies took early control against the Mavericks, but it wouldn't last long.

In the bottom of the second, Kylie Becker opened the scoring with an RBI single to left. Sellers followed with a three-run home run to right-center to make it 4-0, her third of the season.

UNO tied it before Montana could even get an out in the top of the third. Two singles and an error loaded the bases against Michaela Hood for Jamie White. She tied it with a grand slam on the first pitch.

White made it 5-4 in the top of the fifth with a solo shot, giving White her third two-home-run game of the season.

Like the Mavericks did after the Grizzlies took the game's first lead, Montana did not wait long to tie it up.

With runners on second and third and two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Curtis, on as a pinch hitter, made it 5-5 with a single through the left side.

Achenbach relieved Hood after five and got a strikeout with a runner on second in the top of the sixth.

Montana loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth with one out, and UNO survived one batter, getting a force out at home, but would not make it through without giving up the go-ahead run.

With the bases still loaded, Lexi Knauss hit a grounder that the second baseman could not handle. That allowed McGrath to score what would be the game-winning run.

Achenbach had to face White with one out and the bases empty in the top of the seventh, and White came within inches of tying it with her third home run of the game.

Alas, her hit high off the fence in right was just a long single, and Achenbach picked up the win with a foul out to third and a strikeout.

Becker went 3 for 4, her second multiple-hit game of the weekend.

Montana will close out the tournament with a second game against host UC Riverside at 12:30 p.m. (MT) on Sunday.