Griz drop pair of tight games

Saturday, March 1

Northridge, Calif.

11 AM (MT)

Montana

4-14

CSU Northridge

6-12

Montana

CSU Northridge

3/1/2025 8:13:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana softball team lost a pair of close decisions on Saturday as the CSUN Champions Classic continued in Northridge, Calif.

The Grizzlies (4-15) were in a scoreless game with host CSU Northridge into the bottom of the sixth before the Matadors scored four runs to win 4-0.

Montana was in a 2-2 game with Fairleigh Dickinson into the seventh inning before the Knights put up four runs to win 6-2.

"Our pitchers have made really nice adjustments and are doing a good job. We have to have the offense to support them," said coach Stef Ewing.

"We've got to do a better job of hitting with runners in scoring position. We had some opportunities today that got away from us. We have to find ways to get runs across the board, whatever it takes."

After picking up her first win of the season in Friday's 4-2 win over FDU, Brianna Lachermeier got the start on Saturday morning against the Matadors and gave her team another chance to win.

She allowed three hits through five innings before CSUN opened the scoring in the sixth. The Matadors had a two-run single off Lachermeier, later a two-run single off Siona Halwani.

Madison Tarrant led off the top of the seventh with a double to the fence in left and she advanced to third with nobody out on a wild pitch, but that's where she remained.

Montana's only other hit was a single to left by JoJo Christiaens in the third. The Grizzlies only had four base runners in seven innings, on a pair of hits and two walks.

Lachermeier took the loss. She allowed six hits and three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings as her ERA took another nosedive, from 7.57 at first pitch to 6.82 at game's end.

The Knights and Grizzlies both scored runs in the first inning in Montana's second game of the day, the Grizzlies scoring on an RBI double from Tarrant that drove in Presley Jantzi, who drew a walk.

Montana had a runner at third in the third inning, runners on second and third in the fourth but was unable to score in either inning.

Fairleigh Dickinson went up 2-1 in the top of the fifth and again the Grizzlies answered in their half of the inning.

Breiana Bonkavich led off with a bunt single, stole second and advanced to third with nobody out on a wild pitch. Anna Cockhill drove her in and evened the game at 2-2 with a single to left.

After Cockhill stole second and Jantzi walked, Kynzie Mohl put runners on second and third with one out with a ground out. An infield pop-up and a ground out ended the inning without any more runs scored.

Cameryn Ortega got the start and went into the seventh in a 2-2 game after holding the Knights to six hits through six innings.

After she walked the leadoff batter and then hit the next batter, she was relieved by Halwani. FDU scored three runs on a bases-loaded double and one on an RBI single to go up 6-2.

Montana went down in order in the bottom of the seventh.

"Cam and Bri pitched great," said Ewing. "When it's those tight games, it gives us an opportunity to have someone step up and come through. We haven't had a lot of those opportunities this year.

"We have to continue to gain experience and confidence in those situations so the ball can swing in our favor."

Montana will conclude play at the Champions Classic with a final game against Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday at 11 a.m. (MT), the game pushed back an hour with overnight rain expected.

"We'll have the opportunity tomorrow to take the series from them," said Ewing. "We have to continue to pitch well and find a way to get more people across the plate."