Friday, February 11
Sacramento, Calif.
10 AM (MT)
Montana
vs
San Jose State
Photo by: Derek Johnson
Softball season opens on Friday
2/9/2022 12:18:00 PM | Softball
The Montana softball team will open its 2022 schedule this weekend when the Grizzlies play five games over three days at the Nor Cal Kickoff in Sacramento and Davis, Calif.
Montana will open the season facing San Jose State on Friday morning at Sacramento State's home field, then follow that with a game against Saint Mary's.
The Grizzlies will play Saint Mary's again and UC Davis on Saturday at UCD's La Rue Field, then wrap up the weekend with a game against Santa Clara on Sunday morning back at Shea Stadium in Sacramento.
Coverage: Montana's three games at Sacramento State on Friday and Sunday can be tracked via live stats. Saturday's game at UC Davis is scheduled to be available on ESPN+.
The schedule:
Friday: vs. San Jose State, 10 a.m. (MT), at Sacramento State
Friday: vs. Saint Mary's, 12:30 p.m. (MT), at Sacramento State
Saturday: vs. Saint Mary's, 10 a.m. (MT), at UC Davis
Saturday: at UC Davis, 3 p.m. (MT)
Sunday: vs. Santa Clara, 10 a.m. (MT), at Sacramento State
At a glance (Montana): The Grizzlies went 19-30 last season and tied for third in the Big Sky Conference with an 8-10 league record. Montana won three games at the Big Sky tournament to advance to the play-in game for the championship series.
The Grizzlies were picked fifth out of seven teams in the preseason coaches' poll.
At a glance (San Jose State): The Spartans, under then first-year head coach Tammy Lohmann, went 9-23 last season, 5-13 in Mountain West Conference games to finish eighth out of nine teams. San Jose State tied for eighth in this year's preseason coaches' poll with Utah State.
At a glance (Saint Mary's): The Gaels went 13-24 last season and finished fourth out of six teams in the West Coast Conference with a 4-8 league record.
At a glance (UC Davis): The Aggies went 19-24 last spring, 13-11 in the Big West to finish third behind Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton. UC Davis, which has three all-region players returning, was picked third in this year's preseason coaches' poll behind Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State.
At a glance (Santa Clara): The Broncos went 8-20 a year ago and tied for fifth out of six teams in the West Coast Conference at 5-10.
History: This will the second time Montana has opened its season at the Nor Cal Kickoff. The Grizzlies went 1-4 at the tournament to open the 2019 season.
Montana has played 12 games in its history at Sacramento State's Shea Stadium, going 3-9. The Grizzlies have played nine games at UC Davis's La Rue Field, going 4-5.
Series histories:
* Montana is 0-2 against San Jose State, falling to the Spartans twice in 2019, once at Las Cruces, N.M., once on SJSU's home field.
* Montana has gone 1-1 against Saint Mary's and hasn't faced the Gaels since the Grizzlies' debut season of 2015 when the teams split a pair of games at Boise State's tournament. Montana's 5-4 win in eight innings at that tournament was the third win in program history.
* Montana is 1-3 against UC Davis, with all four matchups taking place at La Rue Field. The teams met once in 2015 and '16, twice in 2019.
* Montana is undefeated against Santa Clara, going 5-0. The Grizzlies have three times defeated the Broncos on SCU's home field, twice at UC Davis's La Rue Field.
Summary:
It's been 270 days since Montana walked off the field at Ogden, Utah, its 2021 season ended at the Big Sky Conference tournament by Southern Utah.
Now the Grizzlies are ready to start a new campaign with a team that is a veteran-heavy group. Seven of the eight position players who started that tournament game against Southern Utah, behind pitcher Tristin Achenbach, are back.
Montana also added an upperclassman pitcher through transfer and five true freshmen.
"The last two weeks, everyone has been a little more antsy," said coach Melanie Meuchel. "We're excited to see each other at practice, but we're more excited to get on the road and compete in the same dugout against a different opponent.
"This is what you work your whole offseason to get to. It's the start of a good, long season, so everyone is very eager. We're looking forward to Friday morning."
Montana's most noticeable area of strength and experience is the infield, where first-team All-Big Sky first baseman Cami Sellers and all-region shortstop Maygen McGrath return.
They are joined by Kylie Becker, voted second-team All-Big Sky last season at third base, and Kendall Curtis, who split starts at second base in 2021 with Lexi Knauss.
Jaxie Klucewich started 46 of 49 games last season in left, Julie Phelps started 46 games in center. Elise Ontiveros and Brooklyn Weisgram combined to make 27 starts in right.
At catcher, McKenna Tjaden and Riley Stockton made all 49 starts.
"What we're seeing in a practice setting is an elevation of game within our team," said Meuchel. "We have some veteran to us, but we also have some newcomers who are establishing who they are.
"Every year brings a new team. We have a veteran group, but it's finding a way for the group to mold together. I think we're in a very good spot. We're in a good spot at the start of that process."
The 2022 season is now the eighth year of the program. Meuchel was an assistant coach the first three years of the program and now is entering her fifth year as head coach.
"All of the teams have had a little bit of difference, but all of them have breathed and lived Griz Softball and our culture and have had a lot of pride in what we do," said Meuchel.
"All of them have had a little different feel with the personalities on the team. The fun part has been trying to figure out each team and who they are going to be but under the same dynamic of Griz Softball."
Montana batted .313 last season, its best performance at the plate under Meuchel and the second-best hitting percentage in program history, behind the .326 of the 2016 team.
Eight of the team's top 10 hitters are back in 2022.
What has yet to be determined is how the pitching will play out. Sophomore Allie Brock is the lone returner who threw any innings for Montana last season.
Joining the staff are junior Maggie Joseph, the transfer who pitched two seasons at California, and freshman Dana Butterfield.
All three are expected to see action this weekend in California.
"All three will be major contributors to our weekend of five games," said Meuchel, whose staff had an ERA of 6.34 last season. "I look forward to utilizing all three.
"To get to watch their growth on a daily basis is pretty special. All three of them have had great outings for us and continue to set a tone for our defense."
For starters, Montana will get four California teams this weekend, all of which had different COVID dynamics to their 2021 seasons.
"A lot of them didn't have their nonconference schedule. They just played within their conference," said Meuchel. "The opportunities they'll receive in 2022 are going to give them more of a true season.
"It's Weekend 1 for everybody. We'll focus on our growth and who we are and what we can bring to the table. If we do that, we feel like it will give us a chance to be in every game."
Montana notes:
* Maygen McGrath batted .410 last season on her way to NFCA third-team All-Pacific Region honors. That average ranked second in the Big Sky and was the second-best in program history behind Bethany Olea's .416 in 2017.
* McGrath was the second player in program history to be named all-region. Delene Colburn, also at shortstop, was a third-team selection in 2017.
* McGrath led the Big Sky in both hits (66) and runs scored (42).
* Cami Sellers was voted first-team All-Big Sky last season at first base and went through Senior Day festivities. In the offseason she reconsidered. Montana welcomes back her .344 career batting average and 59 extra-base hits.
* Montana was picked fifth out of seven teams in the preseason coaches' poll after tying for third last season.
* McGrath (.410), Jaxie Klucewich (.342), Sellers (.329), Kylie Becker (.329), Kendall Curtis (.303) and Brooklyn Weisgram (.302) all batted better than .300 last season.
* Sellers was voted first-team All-Big Sky last season, Becker and McGrath second team. Klucewich was honorable mention.
* McGrath's 13 home runs last season were one off the program record of 14, set by Colburn in 2017.
* With one season to go, McGrath (.351) and Sellers (.344) rank fourth and fifth in program history in career batting average.
* Montana closed last season winning eight of its final 12 games.
* McGrath led Montana last season in both multiple-hit games (21) and multiple-RBI games (12). She also ended the season on a 19-game hitting streak, the best in program history, surpassing by one the 18-game hitting streak Sellers had in 2019.
Upcoming: Montana will play at the Tracy Beard College Classic next weekend, a tournament hosted by North Texas in Melissa, Texas.
Montana will open the season facing San Jose State on Friday morning at Sacramento State's home field, then follow that with a game against Saint Mary's.
The Grizzlies will play Saint Mary's again and UC Davis on Saturday at UCD's La Rue Field, then wrap up the weekend with a game against Santa Clara on Sunday morning back at Shea Stadium in Sacramento.
Coverage: Montana's three games at Sacramento State on Friday and Sunday can be tracked via live stats. Saturday's game at UC Davis is scheduled to be available on ESPN+.
The schedule:
Friday: vs. San Jose State, 10 a.m. (MT), at Sacramento State
Friday: vs. Saint Mary's, 12:30 p.m. (MT), at Sacramento State
Saturday: vs. Saint Mary's, 10 a.m. (MT), at UC Davis
Saturday: at UC Davis, 3 p.m. (MT)
Sunday: vs. Santa Clara, 10 a.m. (MT), at Sacramento State
At a glance (Montana): The Grizzlies went 19-30 last season and tied for third in the Big Sky Conference with an 8-10 league record. Montana won three games at the Big Sky tournament to advance to the play-in game for the championship series.
The Grizzlies were picked fifth out of seven teams in the preseason coaches' poll.
At a glance (San Jose State): The Spartans, under then first-year head coach Tammy Lohmann, went 9-23 last season, 5-13 in Mountain West Conference games to finish eighth out of nine teams. San Jose State tied for eighth in this year's preseason coaches' poll with Utah State.
At a glance (Saint Mary's): The Gaels went 13-24 last season and finished fourth out of six teams in the West Coast Conference with a 4-8 league record.
At a glance (UC Davis): The Aggies went 19-24 last spring, 13-11 in the Big West to finish third behind Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton. UC Davis, which has three all-region players returning, was picked third in this year's preseason coaches' poll behind Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State.
At a glance (Santa Clara): The Broncos went 8-20 a year ago and tied for fifth out of six teams in the West Coast Conference at 5-10.
History: This will the second time Montana has opened its season at the Nor Cal Kickoff. The Grizzlies went 1-4 at the tournament to open the 2019 season.
Montana has played 12 games in its history at Sacramento State's Shea Stadium, going 3-9. The Grizzlies have played nine games at UC Davis's La Rue Field, going 4-5.
Series histories:
* Montana is 0-2 against San Jose State, falling to the Spartans twice in 2019, once at Las Cruces, N.M., once on SJSU's home field.
* Montana has gone 1-1 against Saint Mary's and hasn't faced the Gaels since the Grizzlies' debut season of 2015 when the teams split a pair of games at Boise State's tournament. Montana's 5-4 win in eight innings at that tournament was the third win in program history.
* Montana is 1-3 against UC Davis, with all four matchups taking place at La Rue Field. The teams met once in 2015 and '16, twice in 2019.
* Montana is undefeated against Santa Clara, going 5-0. The Grizzlies have three times defeated the Broncos on SCU's home field, twice at UC Davis's La Rue Field.
Summary:
It's been 270 days since Montana walked off the field at Ogden, Utah, its 2021 season ended at the Big Sky Conference tournament by Southern Utah.
Now the Grizzlies are ready to start a new campaign with a team that is a veteran-heavy group. Seven of the eight position players who started that tournament game against Southern Utah, behind pitcher Tristin Achenbach, are back.
Montana also added an upperclassman pitcher through transfer and five true freshmen.
"The last two weeks, everyone has been a little more antsy," said coach Melanie Meuchel. "We're excited to see each other at practice, but we're more excited to get on the road and compete in the same dugout against a different opponent.
"This is what you work your whole offseason to get to. It's the start of a good, long season, so everyone is very eager. We're looking forward to Friday morning."
Montana's most noticeable area of strength and experience is the infield, where first-team All-Big Sky first baseman Cami Sellers and all-region shortstop Maygen McGrath return.
They are joined by Kylie Becker, voted second-team All-Big Sky last season at third base, and Kendall Curtis, who split starts at second base in 2021 with Lexi Knauss.
Jaxie Klucewich started 46 of 49 games last season in left, Julie Phelps started 46 games in center. Elise Ontiveros and Brooklyn Weisgram combined to make 27 starts in right.
At catcher, McKenna Tjaden and Riley Stockton made all 49 starts.
"What we're seeing in a practice setting is an elevation of game within our team," said Meuchel. "We have some veteran to us, but we also have some newcomers who are establishing who they are.
"Every year brings a new team. We have a veteran group, but it's finding a way for the group to mold together. I think we're in a very good spot. We're in a good spot at the start of that process."
The 2022 season is now the eighth year of the program. Meuchel was an assistant coach the first three years of the program and now is entering her fifth year as head coach.
"All of the teams have had a little bit of difference, but all of them have breathed and lived Griz Softball and our culture and have had a lot of pride in what we do," said Meuchel.
"All of them have had a little different feel with the personalities on the team. The fun part has been trying to figure out each team and who they are going to be but under the same dynamic of Griz Softball."
Montana batted .313 last season, its best performance at the plate under Meuchel and the second-best hitting percentage in program history, behind the .326 of the 2016 team.
Eight of the team's top 10 hitters are back in 2022.
What has yet to be determined is how the pitching will play out. Sophomore Allie Brock is the lone returner who threw any innings for Montana last season.
Joining the staff are junior Maggie Joseph, the transfer who pitched two seasons at California, and freshman Dana Butterfield.
All three are expected to see action this weekend in California.
"All three will be major contributors to our weekend of five games," said Meuchel, whose staff had an ERA of 6.34 last season. "I look forward to utilizing all three.
"To get to watch their growth on a daily basis is pretty special. All three of them have had great outings for us and continue to set a tone for our defense."
For starters, Montana will get four California teams this weekend, all of which had different COVID dynamics to their 2021 seasons.
"A lot of them didn't have their nonconference schedule. They just played within their conference," said Meuchel. "The opportunities they'll receive in 2022 are going to give them more of a true season.
"It's Weekend 1 for everybody. We'll focus on our growth and who we are and what we can bring to the table. If we do that, we feel like it will give us a chance to be in every game."
Montana notes:
* Maygen McGrath batted .410 last season on her way to NFCA third-team All-Pacific Region honors. That average ranked second in the Big Sky and was the second-best in program history behind Bethany Olea's .416 in 2017.
* McGrath was the second player in program history to be named all-region. Delene Colburn, also at shortstop, was a third-team selection in 2017.
* McGrath led the Big Sky in both hits (66) and runs scored (42).
* Cami Sellers was voted first-team All-Big Sky last season at first base and went through Senior Day festivities. In the offseason she reconsidered. Montana welcomes back her .344 career batting average and 59 extra-base hits.
* Montana was picked fifth out of seven teams in the preseason coaches' poll after tying for third last season.
* McGrath (.410), Jaxie Klucewich (.342), Sellers (.329), Kylie Becker (.329), Kendall Curtis (.303) and Brooklyn Weisgram (.302) all batted better than .300 last season.
* Sellers was voted first-team All-Big Sky last season, Becker and McGrath second team. Klucewich was honorable mention.
* McGrath's 13 home runs last season were one off the program record of 14, set by Colburn in 2017.
* With one season to go, McGrath (.351) and Sellers (.344) rank fourth and fifth in program history in career batting average.
* Montana closed last season winning eight of its final 12 games.
* McGrath led Montana last season in both multiple-hit games (21) and multiple-RBI games (12). She also ended the season on a 19-game hitting streak, the best in program history, surpassing by one the 18-game hitting streak Sellers had in 2019.
Upcoming: Montana will play at the Tracy Beard College Classic next weekend, a tournament hosted by North Texas in Melissa, Texas.
Players Mentioned
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