Montana loses two games in Phoenix

Saturday, February 25

Phoenix, Ariz.

11 AM

Montana

Utah State

2/25/2023 9:51:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana softball team lost games to Utah State and Grand Canyon on Saturday as the Purple Classic continued in Phoenix.

The Grizzlies lost to the Aggies 9-3 after building an early lead, then lost to the now 12-1 Lopes 7-3 on their home field.

In Montana's opener, the Grizzlies fell behind 2-0 in the top of the first but got one run in the bottom of the second and two more in the bottom of the third to take a 3-2 lead.

Montana's first run came on a Utah State error. The Grizzlies' runs in the third came on three straight hits.

Elise Ontiveros led off the inning with a bunt single. Kelly Sweyer drove her in with a double down the left-field line. Hannah Jablonski followed with a double to right-center that scored Sweyer.

Utah State would tie it in the top of the fourth on a hit batter with the bases loaded.

The Aggies broke it open with four runs on one hit in the fifth. Montana pitchers walked five batters in the inning and hit another.

The Grizzlies had one hit in the fifth, two in the sixth and two more in the seventh but wouldn't score again. Their 11 hits for the game matched a season high.

Jablonski went 3 for 4, Grace Haegele started and took the loss after pitching four innings.

Montana never held a lead against Grand Canyon, with the Lopes scoring twice in the first, three times in the fourth and two times in the fifth.

The Grizzlies have given up first-inning runs to their opponents in 11 of 14 games this season.

Facing a team that had a 0.95 ERA entering the game, Montana scored once in the top of the fifth, twice in the top of the sixth, both by home run.

Sweyer hit her first of the season, to left on a 1-1 pitch, with two out in the top of the fifth. It was the third home run of her career.

In the sixth inning, freshman Makena Strong earned a one-out walk. Two pitches later, fellow freshman Chloe Saxton hit a two-run home run, her first as a Grizzly.

Freshman Evelyn O'Brien made her first collegiate start. She gave up a pair of RBI singles in the first, then held the Lopes hitless in the second and third.

She was relieved by Haegele after walking the first two batters of the fourth. Haegele pitched the final three innings.

Montana (0-14) will try to collect its first win of the season on Sunday morning when the Grizzlies face Utah State at 9:30 a.m.