Hornets claim pair of one-run victories

Friday, April 2

Missoula, Mont.

1 PM

Montana

9-19, 3-1

Sacramento State

10-15, 4-0

Sacramento State

Montana

4/2/2021 8:06:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Montana Sports Information

Montana dropped a pair of one-run decisions to Sacramento State on Friday afternoon at Grizzly Softball Field as the teams opened a three-game series in Missoula.

The Hornets won the opener in eight innings, 2-1, and followed that up with a 5-4 victory in Game 2.

Montana had more hits on the day but Sacramento State had the ones that decided the outcomes.

Carley Morfey hit a two-out, solo home run in the top of the eighth in the opener to spoil an 11-strikeout complete game by Tristin Achenbach.

Morfey hit a two-run home run in the top of the second in Game 2 to put the Hornets up 2-1, and they would hold the lead to the opening-day sweep.

"We put ourselves in a lot of opportunities to push some runs," said coach Melanie Meuchel, whose team left 12 runners on base in the doubleheader.

"We left some people stranded when we didn't come up with a hit and the execution at certain times, but I felt like we gave ourselves opportunities in well-matched games."

The opener matched Achenbach, the Big Sky leader in strikeouts, against Marissa Bertuccio, the seven-game winner and reigning Big Sky Player of the Week.

Both were on top of their games. They combined to allow three runs and just 11 hits over eight innings.

"Both were impressive," said Meuchel. "Both really controlled the zone and controlled what they were doing."

Achenbach threw her 23rd career complete game and recorded double-digit strikeouts for the fourth time this season.

"Tristin threw very well," said Meuchel. "She gave our team a chance in that game. I'm really proud of the way she came out and threw for us."

Brooklyn Weisgram gave Montana a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run, her first of the season and her first since going deep against Texas Tech in February 2020 in Metairie, La.

Sacramento State had just two hits entering the top of the sixth, but the Hornets would score the equalizer.

A one-out walk was followed by a double that put runners on second and third. A sacrifice fly to left evened the score at 1-1.

Morfey had the game-winning hit in the top of the eighth, and the bottom half of the inning nearly had a home run to match it.

Cami Sellers flew out to straightaway center, not just to the warning track but with the center fielder pressed up against the fence, her glove overhead.

The next batter, Maygen McGrath, hit one to right that was caught on the warning track as well. With two outs, Kendall Curtis hit the first pitch she saw over the fence in left but foul.

"Our players are here to compete and they are going to give everything they've got. That's what they're doing right now," said Meuchel.

"We're just an inch away from having some breakout stuff. We're in a good spot. We're giving ourselves opportunities. I'm really proud of what we're doing."

Montana struck early in Game 2, going up 1-0 in the bottom of the first on an RBI single to right by McGrath that scored Kylie Becker, who led off with a scary line drive off Hornet starter Kelsey Alcantara.

Alcantara would stay in the game and get the win, allowing eight hits and three runs over four innings.

Morfey put Sacramento State up 2-1 in the second. The Hornets added two more in the top of the third, including a RBI double by Morfey, who went 3 for 6 on the day with five RBIs and two runs scored.

Montana added two in the fourth on five hits, all singles, to pull within 4-3 but also left the bases loaded. Julie Phelps had an RBI single to left, Jaxie Klucewich an RBI single up the middle.

Sacramento State went up 5-3 in the fifth on an RBI single, McGrath matched it with a solo home run, her eighth of the year, in the bottom half of the inning to make it 5-4, which is how it ended.

Allie Brock, who took the loss, worked through two batters into the fifth. She was replaced by Ashley Ward, who threw three innings of scoreless relief.

Seven players had multiple hits on the day for Montana.

"Both games felt the same, where we were a hit away, a couple hits from making a big change in the game," said Meuchel.

"We didn't get the outcome we wanted, but we get another game tomorrow. We're giving ourselves great opportunities right now in a lot of ways, and I think we're feeling that."

The teams will conclude their series on Saturday at 1 p.m.