Spring softball schedule finalized

On an arctic, late-December day in western Montana that has people longing for the relative warmth of spring, some news that might help: the Griz softball team has finalized its 2022 schedule.

Montana will play early-season tournaments in California, Texas, Hawaii and Arizona, then play 11 straight home games in March before things get really serious in April and May.

The Grizzlies, who return their primary starter at every non-pitching position except second base, open the season the second weekend of February at the Nor Cal Kickoff for the second time in four years.

Montana will open the season against San Jose State, the first of three Mountain West Conference opponents for the Grizzlies over the first two weekends.

The Grizzlies also will get games against Saint Mary's, UC Davis and Santa Clara on opening weekend while playing three of five games on the home field of Sacramento State.

Montana will return to Sacramento State in April for what should be an important league matchup between two of the Big Sky's better programs.

"It will give us time on their field prior to going out there to play them in conference," said now fifth-year coach Melanie Meuchel.

Montana will then travel to Texas for the second consecutive season, this time to Melissa for a tournament hosted by North Texas.

The Grizzlies will get two games against Nevada, two against Colorado State of the Mountain West. The Wolf Pack finished third in the league last season, the Rams fifth.

"North Texas will be new. I'm excited to face a North Texas team and Nevada and Colorado State teams that have been very good in their conference," added Meuchel.

Abilene Christian will be competing in Melissa as well. Montana will face the Wildcats at least once the following weekend in Hawaii, which highlights the challenge of putting together a schedule.

"The hard part of scheduling is that you're trying to pick places to go but picking places common opponents won't go or people that you'll see," said Meuchel.

Montana will then head to Hawaii for the first time since the NCAA tournament season of 2017.

The Grizzlies will face Hawaii, Abilene Christian and North Dakota the first two days, then play off a bracket on Day 3 based on the previous results, a tournament within a tournament.

"It's a little unique. You could walk away potentially a winner of that tournament," said Meuchel.

Montana will open March with its fifth trip to a Grand Canyon tournament. The Grizzlies will face the Lopes, plus Binghamton twice and San Jose State twice.

The Grizzlies will host the Montana Invitational the second week of March: four teams, four days, 10 games.

Joining Montana at Grizzly Softball Field will be DePaul, Seattle and CSU Bakersfield.

DePaul has 21 times advanced to the NCAA tournament and last spring won the Big East with a 13-1 league record.

Head coach Tracie Adix-Zins is from Edmonds, Wash. One of her seniors is right-handed pitcher Erin Hocker of Great Falls.

"I'm excited to bring in DePaul, which will be new for us," said Meuchel. "They have a Montana player on their team, so that made it enticing for them to come this way."

Montana will play a doubleheader against Providence of Great Falls on Saturday, March 19, before opening league against 2021 Big Sky tournament champion Portland State the final weekend of March.

That will be 11 straight home games for the Grizzlies between March 10 and 27.

"You always wish that could come a little later in the season, but it will be nice to be home a good chunk of March," said Meuchel.

"It can be pretty grueling going on the road the first four or five weekends every season, so we're always excited to be in Missoula and play in front of our fans."

Montana will get home series against Portland State, Idaho State and Northern Colorado, road series at Southern Utah, Weber State and Sacramento State.

The top six teams at regular season's end will make their way to Ogden, Utah, for the double-elimination Big Sky tournament May 11-14.

"Every conference series matters, every conference game matters," said Meuchel, whose team won three Big Sky tournament games last May and came up one play short of playing for a championship.

"I'm excited about what we currently have on our roster. It will be fun to work through our schedule to continue to build on something that is clicking through conference."

University of Montana Athletics

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