Griz put it all together, pick up third win

Friday, February 21

Bakersfield, Calif.

10:30 AM (MT)

Montana

2-10

Pacific

4-5

Montana

Pacific

Photos: CSU Bakersfield Athletics

2/21/2025 7:58:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana softball team snapped CSU Bakersfield's six-game winning streak with a 6-3 victory over the host school at Roadrunner Softball Complex in Bakersfield on Friday as CSUB's Kathy Welter Classic opened.

After the Grizzlies (3-10) opened the day with a 5-3 loss to Pacific, a game Montana led 3-2 going into the bottom of the fifth, they put it all together against the Roadrunners, who had outscored their previous six opponents by a score of 58-19.

Anna Cockhill and Presley Jantzi both drove in two, Cameryn Ortega allowed one earned run over 6 2/3 innings, and Siona Halwani picked up a one-batter save, her first of the season.

Trailing 3-2 going into the fifth, the Grizzlies scored twice in the fifth and twice more in the sixth to pull away for their third win of the season.

"That was the most complete game we've played all year," said first-year coach Stef Ewing. "We pitched well, we played defense really well, we managed our runners really well and we had really good at-bats with runners on and with runners in scoring position."

The Game 2 performance would not have been possible without some mistakes in Game 1, things Ewing addressed in between the Grizzlies' two outings.

In a game that was there for the winning against Pacific, Montana left the bases loaded in the top of the first and left two more on in the top of the second.

The Grizzlies grabbed a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth on a bases-loaded single to center by Presley Jantzi. She had three of Montana's six hits in the game and drove in all three runs.

The Grizzlies were 2 for 15 with runners in scoring position, on Jantzi's RBI double in the top of the first and her two-run single in the fourth.

"Pacific had a lot more productive outs than we did. We talked about it after the game," said Ewing. "We have to do a better job of having productive outs with runners in scoring position. We have to be able to make good things happen.

"Good teams cherish all 21 outs. In that game, I felt like we did not cherish every out when we were up to bat. We didn't have competitive enough at-bats."

Grace Hardy got the start and worked into the fourth inning before she was relieved by Halwani.

Pacific tied it in the bottom of the fifth with a one-out single to right, then went up 5-3 with a pair of two-out hits.

Montana had a runner at third with two outs in the sixth and Jantzi led off the seventh with a double to left-center, but the Grizzlies couldn't add any more runs.

CSU Bakersfield rallied for a 6-5 victory over Pacific after the Grizzlies lost to the Tigers, the Roadrunners rallying back from a 5-1 deficit by scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh with two outs.

CSUB took those winning-streak vibes into its game against Montana and went up 2-0 in the bottom of the first against Ortega on two unearned runs, then grabbed a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the second.

As has become her custom, Ortega shook it off and handcuffed the Roadrunners the rest of the way, allowing only two more hits.

"That's just Cam being Cam," said Ewing. "It's just a matter of her getting her bearings after the first inning. She's just a gamer. She wants the ball and does a good job of pumping the strike zone and trusting her defense to make plays."

But even Ortega goes on notice when the opponent reaches its fourth time through the order. Ortega, holding a 6-3 lead, got the first two outs of the seventh inning but then issued a five-pitch walk.

Ewing didn't even hesitate. She walked out and inserted Halwani, who got a ground out to shortstop to end the game.

"That was the fourth time through the order, so she was on a short leash," said Ewing. "Four times seeing a pitcher in one game is a lot. It's an advantage to the hitter. It didn't have anything to do with Cameryn. It was just nice to see Siona come in and close the door."

Trailing 2-0 in the top of the second, Montana evened the score when Cockhill came through with a two-out single up the middle with the bases loaded.

It was Cockhill again sparking a rally in the top of the fifth, leading off with a double, then scoring on a sweet tag of home plate on an RBI single by Jantzi. Grace Lopez later drove in the winning run on a sacrifice fly to left, making it 4-3.

Makena Strong had a one-out pinch-hit single to left in the sixth. She scored on a triple to right by Jantzi, who crossed the plate herself on an RBI double by Hannah Jablonski.

Just like that, the Grizzlies were up 6-3 and mostly in control.

"There were a lot of really good things that happened," said Ewing. "It started with us being able to hit with two outs, with two strikes and doing a much better job of playing the game within the game.

"The adjustments that we talked about needing to make after Game 1, we were able to do in Game 2. Now we have to repeat that and play that kind of softball every time we show up on the field."

Jantzi went 5 for 8 with five RBIs in the two games, Cockhill went 3 for 5 with two walks, one hit-by-pitch, two runs scored and two batted in.

Montana's pitchers only walked three batters over 13 innings on Friday and only allowed five earned runs for a two-game ERA of 2.69.

The Grizzlies will face Pacific at 10:30 a.m. (MT) and CSU Bakersfield at 1 p.m. (MT) on Saturday.