Rehbein goes the distance as Griz split

Saturday, February 24

Bakersfield, Calif.

10 AM (MT)

Montana

3-10

Saint Mary's

8-5

Saint Mary's

Montana

Photo by: Tanner Ecker/University of Montana

2/24/2024 7:35:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Montana Sports Information

Freshman pitcher Rylee Rehbein threw a complete game and picked up her first win as a Grizzly as Montana rallied for a 6-4 victory over host CSU Bakersfield on Saturday at the Kathy Welter Classic.

After falling behind 4-0 against the Roadrunners (2-10), Montana scored the game's final six runs to snap a seven-game losing streak.

The Grizzlies (4-10) opened the day with an 8-1 loss to Saint Mary's (9-5).

After giving up four runs through the first two innings on six hits, Rehbein settled in and allowed only two hits over the game's final five innings. She struck out seven.

"She threw really well. She commanded the zone, kept them off balance and just looked great out there," said coach Melanie Meuchel.

"She had some great plays behind her to be able to help finish, but she helped set the tone for our defense."

After being held to three hits by Saint Mary's in Saturday's opener and falling behind the Roadrunners 4-0, Montana was in need of a spark.

It came from the bat of Jocelyn Eisen, who came to the plate in the top of the third with two on and two out and hit a home run to left field, her first as a Grizzly and first in three years as a collegiate player.

It pulled Montana within a run at 4-3.

"It was big," said Meuchel. "Squaring up a ball and hitting it real solid gave so much life to us. Her excitement, then to see our players' excitement for her was super cool to watch."

With Rehbein holding the Roadrunners at four runs as the game moved along, Montana made its breakthrough in the top of the sixth.

Riley Peschek, who had two of Montana's three hits against Saint Mary's, both doubles, led off with a single and Jessica Stanfield followed with an infield single.

After Kynzie Mohl sacrificed Stanfield and Peschek to second and third, and after Hannah Jablonski was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out, Meuchel called upon Riley Stockton to pinch hit.

With Mohl and Madison Tarrant getting the starts at catcher at the Kathy Welter Classic, the big moment had Stockton coming off the bench.

She delivered a two-run single to give Montana a 5-4 lead, the first for the Grizzlies since holding a lead on Nebraska six games prior.

"She's been really present and ready when called upon," said Meuchel. "The big hit was something we needed and something we got today."

Montana added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Hannah Jablonski. Rehbein finished off a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh with a swinging strikeout to end the game.

Presley Jantzi and Kelly Sweyer both had a pair of hits against the Roadrunners as Montana had nine for the game, matching their second-highest total of the season.

Montana will face CSU Bakersfield for a third time in three days when they play at 10:30 a.m. (MT) on Sunday.