Rallies come up short, Griz lose 12-9

Sunday, February 26

Phoenix, Ariz.

9:30 AM

Montana

0-15

Utah State

7-8

Utah State

Montana

2/26/2023 3:20:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

Trailing 7-0 entering the bottom of the fourth, the Montana softball team scored nine runs over the next three innings, giving the Grizzlies their highest run output of the season, but it wasn't enough to catch Utah State, which hit five home runs to win 12-9 on Sunday morning.

It was the final game of the weekend for Montana at the Purple Classic in Phoenix. The Grizzlies lost five times at Grand Canyon's tournament to drop to 0-15 on the season.

After the teams played two hitless innings, Utah State (7-8) put up five runs in the top of the third to take a lead the Aggies would never give back. The big blow was a three-run home run off Griz starter Grace Haegele.

Utah State went up 7-0 in the top of the fourth on a two-run single off Evelyn O'Brien, who was on in relief of Haegele.

Montana answered with six runs in the bottom of the fourth to close within a run, 7-6. The six runs in the half inning were more than the Grizzlies had scored in 13 of their first 14 games this season.

Kelly Sweyer led off with a single to left-center, Hannah Jablonski reached on an error, and Kynzie Mohl walked to load the bases with nobody out.

After getting ahead in the count 2-0, Kendall Curtis hit the 13th grand slam in program history, two of which are now hers.

Montana wasn't done. Julie Phelps singled to drive in Presley Jantzi, who earlier had walked, and Chloe Saxton had an RBI ground out that brought in Jaxie Klucewich, who had her first multiple-hit game of the season.

Utah State answered right back in the top of the fifth, with four straight batters hitting home runs in a span of eight pitches, a two-run shot, then three solo home runs, off both O'Brien and Haegele, who reentered the game in relief.

The five runs gave the Aggies a 12-6 lead.

Curtis added her fifth RBI of the game in the bottom of the fifth on a ground out, Phelps had an RBI double in the sixth, and Montana made it 12-9 with another run off one of Utah State's three errors in the game.

Klucewich had an infield single with two out in the bottom of the seventh, and Phelps followed with a walk, bringing the potential tying run to the plate, but the game ended on a ground out to third.

Phelps, Jablonski and Klucewich all had two hits in the game. Jablonski had a team-high six for the tournament as Montana hit .254 over five games.

Montana will play games against Boston University, San Diego, Long Beach State and San Diego State next weekend at the San Diego Classic.

Montana lost to Sacramento State at the Montana Softball Complex on April 25, 2025 in Missoula, Montana.

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Tuesday, August 26

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Monday, July 14

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Wednesday, July 09

Griz bolster pitching staff, add Kong, Sweet

Tuesday, July 08

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Boston University

L, 1-9

Mar 3 (Fri)

10 AM (MT)

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Team Stats

Pitching:

W: BUMILLER, T (2-3)

L: Haegele, Grace (0-8)

Utah State

Batting:

2B: COLUNGA, J 1 ; FIFITA, A 1 ; THORNTON, T. 1

HR: COLUNGA, J 1 ; MACFARLANE,K 1 ; JIMENEZ, G 1 ; MATEJ, Grace 1 ; RALEY, C 1

RBI: PRATT, Kya 2 ; COLUNGA, J 3 ; MACFARLANE,K 2 ; JIMENEZ, G 1 ; MATEJ, Grace 1 ; RALEY, C 1

Base Running:

RUNS: PRATT, Kya 1 ; MEDINA, C. 1 ; COLUNGA, J 2 ; MACFARLANE,K 1 ; JIMENEZ, G 2 ; FIFITA, A 1 ; MATEJ, Grace 1 ; RALEY, C 3

SB: COLUNGA, J 1 ; FIFITA, A 1 ; RALEY, C 2

HBP: COLUNGA, J 1 ; GONZALEZ, G 1

Montana

Batting:

2B: Phelps, Julie 1

HR: Curtis, Kendall 1

RBI: Phelps, Julie 1 ; Saxton, Chloe 1 ; Sweyer, Kelly 1 ; Curtis, Kendall 5

SH: Stockton, Riley 1 ; Curtis, Kendall 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Phelps, Julie 1 ; Sweyer, Kelly 1 ; Jablonski, Hannah 1 ; Mohl, Kynzie 2 ; Curtis, Kendall 1 ; Jantzi, Presley 1 ; Hardy, Grace 1 ; Klucewich, Jaxie 1