Rehbein dazzles as Griz win second straight

Sunday, February 25

Bakersfield, Calif.

10:30 AM (MT)

Montana

5-10

CSU Bakersfield

2-11

Montana

CSU Bakersfield

Photo by: Tanner Ecker/UM Photo

2/25/2024 3:47:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

Freshman Rylee Rehbein struck out 12 and pitched a shutout as Montana wrapped up play at the CSUB Kathy Welter Classic with a 2-0 victory over host CSU Bakersfield on Sunday morning.

It was Montana's second consecutive win and the Grizzlies' first shutout since a 1-0 victory over North Dakota in Hawaii in February 2022.

The Grizzlies (5-10) got an RBI double from Riley Peschek in the top of the third and an RBI single from Hannah Jablonski in the sixth for their only runs on six hits.

But they were enough for Rehbein, who shut down the Roadrunners (2-11) over the last five innings in Saturday's 6-4 victory over Bakersfield, then was even more dominant on Sunday.

Rehbein struck out two in the fourth, three in the fifth and three in the sixth, the last two coming after the Roadrunners loaded the bases with one out. Back-to-back swinging strikeouts ended the threat.

With two on and two out in the bottom of the seventh, Rehbein ended the game with strikeout No. 12, putting her in exclusive company.

Only Tristin Achenbach (four times), Michaela Hood (two times) and Maddy Stensby (one time) have struck out at least 12 batters in program history.

Hood had 13 strikeouts of Northern Colorado in 2017, the program record for a freshman. Hood also had 12 against North Dakota that season. Rehbein is the only other freshman to reach a dozen.

Rehbein went 2-0 on the weekend with two complete games. In three appearances over 19 1/3 innings, she had an ERA of 1.45. She struck out 24 batters while walking only two.

"We threw her again because of her success yesterday and her success when she threw on the weekend," said coach Melanie Meuchel. "She really had them stumped. She was ready to go."

Montana got timely hits for the second consecutive game, both wins. The Grizzlies had nine hits with runners on base in their two wins against Bakersfield, seven of those with runners in scoring position.

"We always say, finishing and pushing them through," said Meuchel. "The last couple days, to see the players step up and have the confidence to do it has been really fun to watch."

Montana lost its opening game of the Kathy Welter Classic 4-3 to Saint Mary's on Friday, unable to come all the way back from a 4-0 first-inning deficit.

The Grizzlies pulled that off on Saturday afternoon, coming back from a 4-0 deficit in their 6-4 win over the Roadrunners.

Sunday's win sends Montana home with two straight wins and 12 1/3 scoreless innings pitched.

"Game one of the weekend was a really tough battle, a really good game, so we started the weekend really competitive early," said Meuchel. "Then we found ourselves the last two games."

Jablonski had two of Montana's six hits and went 4 for 8 on the weekend. Peschek had a hit in her fourth straight game. She went 5 for 16 over five games at CSUB with three doubles and three runs scored.

Montana will face New Mexico, Grand Canyon, Toledo and Pacific twice next weekend at GCU's Purple Classic in Phoenix.