Griz fall to Coyotes, Lopes

Friday, February 24

Phoenix, Ariz.

1:30 PM

Montana

0-11

South Dakota

5-5

Montana

South Dakota

2/24/2023 9:50:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana softball team lost games against South Dakota and Grand Canyon on Friday as the Purple Classic opened in Phoenix.

The Grizzlies dropped their third one-run decision of the season, losing to the Coyotes 2-1, then lost their fourth run-rule game, falling 8-0 to the host Lopes in five innings.

The losses dropped Montana to 0-12 on the season.

In Montana's opener on Friday, freshman Grace Haegele had her best outing of the season, allowing four hits over six innings.

South Dakota opened the scoring in the bottom of the 5th on an RBI single and an RBI ground out.

Montana pulled within a run in the top of the 6th when Kynzie Mohl was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, but that was the only run the Grizzlies would score after loading the bases with nobody out.

Julie Phelps, who had two of Montana's four hits in the game, led off the inning with an infield single. Presley Jantzi reached by error, Kelly Sweyer drew a walk.

An infield pop-up and a strikeout brought Mohl to the plate. She picked up her third RBI of the season by taking one for the team.

With the bases loaded and two out, the threat ended with a fielder's choice, leaving three stranded.

Phelps had a two-out single in the top of the seventh and made it to second on a wild pitch, but that's as far as she would advance.

Clara Edwards got a ground out to finish the complete game and pick up her second win of the season.

Against Grand Canyon, which has one of the nation's best ERAs and is now 11-1, Montana had five hits, all singles.

It wasn't enough to keep up with the Lopes, who scored three in the 1st, one in the 2nd and four in the 3rd.

Maggie Joseph got the start and lasted two innings. She struck out four while giving up six runs. Evelyn O'Brien pitched the final two innings. She allowed three hits and two runs while striking out two.

Montana will face Utah State and Grand Canyon on Saturday. The Aggies, who were picked last in the Mountain West, are 4-8 and lost to South Dakota, 4-2, and Grand Canyon, 5-0, on Friday.

Montana will play Utah State at 11 a.m., Grand Canyon at 4 p.m.