Griz split as long road trip opens

Friday, February 14

El Paso, Texas

11 AM

Montana

2-4

Manhattan

0-1

Montana

Manhattan

Photo by: çBill Jarvis

2/14/2025 5:32:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana softball team split a pair of run-rule games on Friday as the Grizzlies' seven-game road trip opened at the Dr. Diana Natalicio Memorial Tournament in El Paso, Texas.

Montana used a 10-run third inning to hit its way past Manhattan in the Grizzlies' opener, winning 13-3 in five innings.

UTEP turned around and one-hit Montana in the Grizzlies' second game, the Miners winning 10-1, also in five innings.

"We have to get to the point where we're the same team in both games. That's our challenge when we're playing doubleheaders and multiple games in a weekend," said first-year coach Stef Ewing.

"We have to be able to be the same team the whole time."

Montana showed its offensive explosiveness against the Jaspers, scoring its most runs in a game since the 2022 season, and that after leaving the bases loaded in both the first and second innings.

Down 2-1 entering the top of the third, the Grizzlies put up 10 runs on seven hits and two Manhattan errors to tie the program record for runs scored in an inning.

Jessica Stanfield collected her first hit of the season early in the inning, then later hit Montana's first home run of the year, a two-run shot that made it 11-2.

JoJo Christiaens had an RBI double in the inning, Anna Cockhill a two-run double, Hannah Jablonski a two-run double.

Montana had eight extra-base hits in the game, the same number the Grizzlies had in five games last weekend at the GCU Kickoff Classic in Phoenix.

"The girls were able to relax when, what we call it, the Grizzlies are in the trees, when there are runners on base. They were able to have quality at-bats," said Ewing.

"We were able to get Jess going. She had a breakthrough day today. We had a lot of quality at-bats and quality swings. The girls were swinging it well."

Montana added two more runs in the top of the fourth on a two-run single by Sveva Sweeney, going up 13-2 before Manhattan added a final run in the bottom of the fifth.

Cockhill, who got on base five times, was a menace in the leadoff position, going 2 for 2 with a pair of doubles and three walks. She scored three times.

Joining Cockhill and Stanfield with two-hit games were Madison Tarrant, who had two doubles, and Presley Jantzi.

Montana's seven doubles were one off the single-game program record.

Siona Halwani allowed four hits over three innings of work and picked up the win, her second of the season. Grace Hardy threw the final two innings, allowing one run.

Montana's bats were quickly cooled off by UTEP starter Taja Felder, who began her career at Louisville before transferring to the Miners.

After UTEP got on the board in the bottom of the first against Griz starter Cameryn Ortega, the Grizzlies tied it in the top of the second.

Sweeney drew a lead-off walk, advanced to second on a ground out, then scored on a Jablonski single to center.

That would turn out to be the Grizzlies' only hit of the game off Felder, who struck out two while inducing eight ground outs, huge on an afternoon when the wind was not only strong but blowing out.

"The ball was popcorn if you put it up in the air," said Ewing. "She was throwing a good down ball. We had some hard-hit outs but she was getting us to ground out.

"The wind was blowing out and their bats didn't miss on a couple balls. We still have to find a way to keep the ball in the ballpark when we're on defense."

It was a 1-1 game in the bottom of their third when UTEP got to Ortega for back-to-back two-out home runs, a three-run shot, then a solo blast that made it 5-1.

The Miners scored five runs on five hits in the bottom of the fourth, including a two-run home run, with Brianna Lachermeier coming on in relief for Ortega, who took the loss.

Felder faced just 17 batters in the five-inning game.

Montana will play the rest of its games on the road trip at the Troy Cox Classic in Las Cruces, N.M.

The Grizzlies will face No. 18 Nebraska at 9 a.m. on Saturday. The Cornhuskers defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and New Mexico State on Friday by a combined score of 30-1.

Montana is scheduled to face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, which got thumped by Nebraska 20-1 on Friday before turning around and defeating Big Sky-favorite Northern Colorado 12-9, on Saturday afternoon.

Montana lost to Sacramento State at the Montana Softball Complex on April 25, 2025 in Missoula, Montana.

Griz set fall schedule

Tuesday, August 26

Kendrick joins softball coaching staff

Monday, July 14

2025 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athletes

Eleven Grizzlies named Scholar Athlete

Wednesday, July 09

Griz bolster pitching staff, add Kong, Sweet

Tuesday, July 08

Next Event

Nebraska

L, 5-13

Feb 15 (Sat)

9 AM

Box Score Recap Preview

Full Schedule

Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Halwani, Siona (2-2)

L: Kiseloski, S (0-1)

Montana

Batting:

2B: Cockhill, Anna 2 ; Tarrant, Madison 2 ; Jablonski, Hannah 1 ; Christiaens, JoJo 1 ; Saxton, Chloe 1

HR: Stanfield, Jessica 1

RBI: Cockhill, Anna 2 ; Jantzi, Presley 1 ; Sweeney, Sveva 2 ; Tarrant, Madison 1 ; Jablonski, Hannah 2 ; Stanfield, Jessica 2 ; Christiaens, JoJo 1 ; Saxton, Chloe 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Cockhill, Anna 3 ; Jantzi, Presley 1 ; Bonkavich, Breiana 1 ; Tarrant, Madison 2 ; Jablonski, Hannah 1 ; Stanfield, Jessica 2 ; Christiaens, JoJo 1 ; Saxton, Chloe 1 ; Lopez, Grace 1