Phelps grand slam not enough, Griz lose 7-5

Thursday, February 24

Honolulu, Hawaii

9 PM (MT)

Montana

5-6

Hawaii

2-4

Montana

Hawaii

2/25/2022 12:09:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana softball team opened the Outrigger Hawaii Invitational on Thursday night in Honolulu with a 7-5 loss to the host Rainbow Wahine.

Trailing 5-1 after two innings, Montana (5-6) evened the score on a grand slam by Julie Phelps in the top of the third, her first collegiate home run.

But Hawaii (2-4) would score the game-winning run in the bottom of the third and add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.

The Grizzlies scored the game's first run in the top of the first.

After Cami Sellers, Maygen McGrath and Kendall Curtis all had one-out singles to load the bases, Presley Jantzi opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly to center.

Montana would leave the bases loaded.

Hawaii would score one run on three hits in the bottom of the first and add four runs on three hits in the bottom of the second off Montana starter Allie Brock.

With one out in the top of the third, McGrath singled to center. Curtis followed with a single to right and Jantzi drew a walk to load the bases for Phelps.

Montana's center fielder entered her junior year with eight career extra-base hits. She made it three in 2022 with a shot to straightaway center on the first pitch she saw from Chloe Borges.

The tie would not last long. Brock allowed a one-out double in the bottom of the third, followed by an RBI single that gave Hawaii the lead for good.

Montana had just one hit over the final four innings.

Dana Butterfield relieved Brock to start the bottom of the fourth and set down the first eight batters she faced. She allowed one run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single.

McGrath and Curtis both had two hits. Jantzi went 1 for 1 to up her batting average to .471.

Montana will play Abilene Christian at 3 p.m. (MT) on Friday, North Dakota at 5:30 p.m. (MT). The Fighting Hawks defeated the Wildcats 8-1 on Thursday.