Griz drop two in Phoenix

Saturday, February 13

Phoenix, Ariz.

11 AM

Montana

1-2

Weber State

1-2

Montana

Weber State

Photo by: Derek Johnson

2/13/2021 7:23:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Montana Sports Information

Led by big days at the plate from Cami Sellers and Maygen McGrath, the Montana softball team batted a healthy .382 on Saturday on Day 2 of the Grand Canyon Kickoff Classic in Phoenix.

But that wasn't enough to keep up with Weber State and Grand Canyon, who handed the Grizzlies 9-5 and 16-5 losses, respectively.

The teams picked to win the Big Sky and place third in the WAC pounded out 32 hits, 11 of which went for extra bases, and batted .542 against a mostly green Montana pitching staff.

Montana was in a back-and-forth game with Weber State on Saturday morning before the Wildcats took control with a four-run fifth.

Trailing 2-0, the Grizzlies evened the score at 2-2 in the top of the fourth, when McGrath hit her first home run of the season.

Montana would go up 5-4 in the top of the fifth, taking the lead on a two-run double to left by McKenna Tjaden.

The Wildcats had an answer, putting up four runs on four hits in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead for good.

Cami Sellers went 3 for 4. McGrath and Tjaden both had a pair of hits.

Freshman Anna Toon got the start. She was replaced in the top of the fourth by Ashley Ward, who threw just 7 1/3 innings last season as a freshman. Freshman Allie Brock threw the final three innings.

Montana grabbed an early lead against Grand Canyon but wouldn't hold it.

After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first, McGrath put the Grizzlies up 2-1 in the bottom half of the inning with her second home run of the day.

The Lopes would go on to score three in the second, six in the third, two in the fourth and four more in the fifth against Brock and Tristin Achenbach.

The 16 runs were the most given up by Montana in program history.

After singling in her first at-bat, Sellers hit a solo home run in the second, a two-run shot in the fourth. It was the second time in her career she's had a pair of home runs in a game.

She would go 3 for 3 against Grand Canyon. Since going 0 for 2 against Oregon in the season opener, Sellers is 9 for 11.

McGrath had a pair of hits against Grand Canyon.

Sellers was 6 for 7 on the day, with three runs scored, three driven in. McGrath went 4 for 6 and also drove in three and scored three times. Both had a pair of home runs.

Montana will face Oregon on Sunday at 9 a.m.