Griz open season with two wins in Louisiana

Friday, February 9

Youngsville, La.

1 PM (MT)

Montana

1-0

Louisiana-Monroe

0-1

Montana

ULM

Photo by: Tanner Ecker/UM Photo

2/9/2024 8:25:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana softball team won a pair of tight, tense and gritty 5-4 victories on Friday as the Mardi Gras Mambo opened in Youngsville, La.

The Grizzlies, who are 2-0 for only the second in program history, defeated Louisiana-Monroe in their season opener, then followed that with another one-run victory over Southern.

"I am so darn proud of their fearless fight, their will to play for each other and their want to get the end result today," said seventh-year coach Melanie Meuchel.

It took Montana 23 games last season to get to two victories. One year later, the Grizzlies are 2-0, something only the 2020 team was able to do, also at a season-opening tournament in Louisiana.

Montana rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the opener, winning it with three runs in the top of the seventh. The Grizzlies got out to a 5-1 lead in the third inning in their second game, then held it through the end.

"On day one, to be able to see us do it two different ways, it shows a lot of the character of our team and a lot of work that our players and staff put in the last six months to get better," said Meuchel.

"Really darn proud they were able to see their hard work pay off with some results."

Emmalyn Brink, a transfer from New Mexico, got the start for Montana against Louisiana-Monroe and went the distance for her first victory as a Grizzly.

She gave up three runs in the bottom of the second and still faced the bases loaded with one out but got out of it with a force out at home and a fly out to center.

She allowed just three hits over the final five innings to give her team the chance to rally.

"She was solid at commanding what she wanted in her spots and trusting that her defense would have her back if she continued to get them balls. She made great pitches in tough situations," said Meuchel.

"We believed it was still close enough that it was still in our hands, that we could still do it."

Montana got on the board in the top of the fourth, when Presley Jantzi led off with a single up the middle, then scored on a Jessica Stanfield double to left-center.

Trailing 4-1 in the top of the sixth, Montana pulled within two on a two-out Riley Stockton double down the right-field line that scored Jocelyn Eisen.

That set the stage for the top of the seventh, which Makena Strong started off with a hard-fought fly out to center. "Her at-bat was so competitive, it just set the tone for us offensively," said Meuchel.

The rally was fast and furious: Jantzi doubled, Stanfield walked, Kelly Sweyer smashed a two-run double to left to tie it, Grace Hardy gave Montana a 5-4 lead with an RBI single through the left side.

"We put some pressure on the defense that inning," said Meuchel. "We were super present at the plate and very competitive."

With a victory in hand, Montana turned right around and faced Southern, which was coming off a 2-1 victory over North Dakota.

The Grizzlies had just four hits in the game but scored five runs in the top of the third on one hit, two errors and three walks. The hit was a two-run double by Kynzie Mohl.

"We found ways to get on base, drew some walks, made pitchers have to come to us a little bit, found ways to punch them in," said Meuchel.

That was enough for starter Grace Haegele, who also threw a complete game, allowing five hits and two earned runs.

She gave up one run in the bottom of the first on an RBI groundout, three runs in the third on two hits and two errors behind her. Montana had eight errors in two games on Friday.

"Grace was good," said Meuchel. "We made some errors today but found ways to get things done when we needed to. Our pitchers stepped up and made some big pitches for us to help close innings out."

Holding a 5-4 lead after three innings, Haegele faced 13 batters, one over the minimum, the final four innings, allowing one hit.

Jantzi went 4 for 6 in the two games with three runs scored. Stockton and Hardy both had a pair of base hits, with Sweyer driving in three.

Montana will face Southeastern Louisiana at 2:30 p.m. (MT) and Eastern Illinois at 4:30 p.m. (MT) on Saturday, then close out the tournament against Nicholls at 10 a.m. (MT) on Sunday.