Jantzi named Big Sky Player of the Week

Montana junior Presley Jantzi was named the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week on Monday after leading the Grizzlies to a series win over North Dakota on Friday and Saturday in Missoula.

Montana's right fielder and leadoff hitter went 7 for 11 against the Fighting Hawks, with three multiple-hit games and four extra-base hits.

She drove in six runs and scored four times as Montana totaled 23 runs over three games and had 31 hits, 14 of them going for extra bases.

The Grizzlies won the opener 9-1 in five innings, their first run-rule victory over a Division I opponent since April 2022, and the finale 9-3. UND won Game 2 by a score of 5-4.

Jantzi has had at least one hit in 13 of Montana's last 14 games, with multiple hits in six of the Grizzlies' last seven to raise her batting average to .417. She ranks second in the Big Sky.

"The outcomes she's getting for herself and for our team are a tribute to her hard work," said coach Melanie Meuchel. "It's her just staying the course and being the softball player and hitter she is."

Jantzi didn't bat in the leadoff position one time as a freshman or sophomore but has made herself at home atop the order as a junior. She's batted leadoff in all 29 of Montana's games this season.

She has 18 more at-bats than any of her teammates, which is a positive for Montana when that player is hitting north of .400.

She leads the Grizzlies in hits (43), runs batted in (19) and runs scored (19), and has an on-base percentage of .455. She is batting .469 with runners on base, .452 with runners in scoring position.

Her spot in the lineup paid off in a big way in Saturday's 9-3 win over North Dakota.

With two on and two outs in the bottom of the fourth and the game tied 2-2, the Fighting Hawks walked Montana's No. 9 hitter on five pitches, bringing Jantzi to the plate with the bases loaded.

She hit a 2-0 pitch over the fence in center for her third career home run, the first since her freshman year. It was the 14th grand slam in program history.

Jantzi is now 6 for 10 in her career with the bases loaded.

"When we moved her up there, we knew we'd get her more at-bats and if our bottom of the order could flip it over, she could drive in runs," said Meuchel.

"That's kind of what's working with our offensive line-up right now. It's great to have her start our games for us. She always gives us a chance."

Montana will open its Big Sky schedule this week with a three-game series at Weber State on Friday and Saturday.

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