Montana sweeps Monday doubleheader

Monday, April 1

Missoula, Mont.

2 PM

Montana

13-20

Providence (MT)

Montana

Photo by: Ryan Brennecke/ University of Mo

4/1/2024 8:29:00 PM | Softball

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By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana softball team swept a doubleheader from NAIA Providence on Monday afternoon at Grizzly Softball Field in Missoula, winning 6-1 and 11-3.

The Grizzlies (14-20) won the opener behind a one-hit complete game from Emmalyn Brinka and a two-run home run by Riley Stockton, her first of the year.

Montana turned six hits, nine Providence walks and three Argo errors into a five-inning run-rule victory in Game 2, with Grace Haegele picking up her fifth win of the season.

The doubleheader came just two days after Montana lost 12-4 at Weber State on Saturday, a win that gave the Wildcats a three-game sweep of the Grizzlies as both teams opened Big Sky play.

"After our last game at Weber, it was a good opportunity for us to get back on the field together and really settle in," said coach Melanie Meuchel.

"We got outside of ourselves on Saturday, got away from what we've been doing. It was nice to get back today and reset and settle back into who we are."

Montana scored two runs on three hard-hit balls in the bottom of the first in Game 1, setting the tone for the opener.

Riley Peschek had an RBI single through the left side, Hannah Jablonski an RBI double to right-center, the first of five doubles in the doubleheader for Montana, the national leader in that statistic.

Stockton hit her fourth career home run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 4-0. Jessica Stanfield made it 5-0 later in the inning after hitting her own double and scoring on a passed ball.

Jablonski led off the sixth with a double down the left-field line and later scored on a Stanfield RBI single to right-center.

That was more than enough for Brinka, who took a no-hitter into the sixth before giving up an infield single. The Argos would score their lone run on a sacrifice fly.

Brinka struck out five and went the distance on 87 pitches. She has allowed seven runs over her last 24 inning pitched and on Monday lowered her ERA to 4.74.

"She came out strong today and really pounded the zone. She added on to what she's been doing and is building on the confidence of what she's been able to do," Meuchel said.

Peschek, Jablonski and Stanfield all had two-hit games. It was Stanfield's second multiple-hit game of the season.

Game 1 wrapped up in one hour, 42 minutes. Game 2 did not have any of the same flow or crispness to it as pitchers for both teams needed 227 pitches to get through a game that ended in the bottom of the fifth.

Providence starter Deven Creech walked nine in her four innings of work, needing 113 pitches to get there, putting Montana in a position of watching pitches while waiting for the right one.

"It was one of those games that had a little bit of a lull to it, when you're seeing a ton of pitches," said Meuchel.

"You're trying to be patient at the plate and make them throw strikes but then also being ready for the opportunity to be able to drive in runs as well."

Montana scored two runs in the bottom of the first on two hits, two walks and a hit batter, then added two more in the bottom of the second on no hits. The Grizzlies drew four walks and had another hit batter.

Montana used three Providence errors in the bottom of the third to build its lead to 7-1 and added a run in the fourth to make it 8-3.

The game ended in fitting fashion. Grace Hardy drove in two with a double to left-center, then scored the winning run on back-to-back wild pitches.

"We found different ways to be able to manufacture runs today," said Meuchel. "We hit the ball more solidly in Game 1 and hit some balls solid in Game 2 but found ways to produce runs in different ways."

Haegele gave up six hits while striking out four. She allowed three runs, only one of them earned as Montana had three errors, its most since early March.

Madison Tarrant, getting the start at designated player, had two of Montana's six hits. Peschek scored three runs to match a season high, Hardy drove in three after entering the game with seven on the season.

Montana will return to league play this weekend when the Grizzlies host Northern Colorado for a three-game series on Saturday and Sunday.