Montana drops two as Desert Classic opens

Friday, February 17

Las Vegas, Nev.

11 AM (MT)

Montana

0-6

CSU Bakersfield

1-5

Montana

CSU Bakersfield

2/17/2023 5:02:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana softball team lost a pair of games on Friday as the UNLV Desert Classic opened in Las Vegas.

The Grizzlies lost 3-2 in nine innings to CSU Bakersfield and 10-1 to Hawaii in five innings.

The tournament opener turned into a pitchers' battle between Montana's Allie Brock and CSU Bakersfield's Brianna Sanchez.

Over nine innings, the two pitchers allowed just four hits.

The Grizzlies got on the scoreboard first in the top of the third when Jaxie Klucewich came through with a two-out single to left to drive in Presley Jantzi, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.

The Roadrunners tied it in the bottom of the fifth on a fielder's choice that brought in a runner from third.

Montana retook the lead in the top of the eighth when Klucewich, who started the inning on second and moved to third on a ground out, scored on a wild pitch with two outs.

CSUB tied it in the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice fly.

The Grizzlies were unable to get their runner home in the top of the ninth, which opened the door for the Roadrunners, who won it with a single through the left side.

The win was CSU Bakersfield's first of the season.

Klucewich's single in the third was Montana's only hit of the game. Brock allowed three hits and didn't give up an earned run while striking out eight, a career best against a Division I opponent.

It was pitching that kept Montana in the game against CSU Bakersfield and pitching that allowed Hawaii to pull away from the Grizzlies in their second game of the day.

The Rainbow Wahine scored three runs in the bottom of the first, all coming on two-out walks with the bases loaded.

Hawaii would score its 10 runs in the run-rule victory on just three hits. Three Montana pitchers issued 10 walks and hit four batters.

The Rainbow Wahine scored four runs on one hit in the second and added two more runs in the third, one in the fourth.

Montana lost twice on Friday despite allowing CSU Bakersfield and Hawaii to bat .154 with just six hits, five of them singles.

The Grizzlies missed out on their opportunities to stay in the game, leaving two on base in the top of the first and the bases loaded in the top of the third.

Montana's lone run came in the second. Kendall Curtis led off with a double down the right-field line. Two batters later, Presley Jantzi drove in Curtis with a double to the fence in right.

Kelly Sweyer went 2 for 2 against Hawaii and was 2 for 5 on the day to inch her team-best batting average up to .381.

Montana will face CSU Bakersfield at 1:30 p.m. (MT) on Saturday, UNLV at 7 p.m. (MT).