Montana drops series opener at San Diego

Saturday, March 15

San Diego, Calif.

6 PM (MT)

Montana

5-19

San Diego

12-16

Montana

San Diego

Photo by: Ryan Brennecke/ University of Mo

3/15/2025 10:33:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana softball team dropped its series opener at San Diego on Saturday evening, falling to the Toreros 5-0 at Del Norte High School.

The Grizzlies (5-19) had runners on base all seven innings, runners in scoring position in each of the first six innings but could not get any across home plate.

Montana was 2 for 15 with runners in scoring position.

"We have to be able to find a way to be successful under pressure. We have to be the same team when there is nobody on or a runner on first as we are when we have runners on second and third," said head coach Stef Ewing.

Presley Jantzi, Jocelyn Eisen, Chloe Saxton and Breiana Bonkavich all had one hit, while Anna Cockhill had three of Montana's five walks. She stole two bases to up her team-leading total to 15.

Cockhill led off the game with a walk and promptly stole second, putting a runner in scoring position before the game's first out. The next three batters struck out, popped up to the infield and fouled out to catcher.

Eisen had a one-out double in the top of the second, but Montana could not turn it into a run. The Grizzlies left nine runners stranded for the game, one off their season high.

"We're making things happen. We're getting on base. We have to find a way to move them over and get them in," said Ewing.

"That starts with having quality at-bats and doing the little things, like hitting the ball the other way, anything we can do to get runs across the board."

San Diego opened the scoring in the bottom of the third, going up 1-0 without a hit in the inning when the Toreros scored on a ground out.

They added one in the fourth on an RBI single, two in the fifth on a two-run home run and one in the sixth on an RBI single.

San Diego (12-16) only out-hit Montana 6-4 but went 4 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

Brianna Lachermeier got the start for Montana and allowed two runs over 3 1/3 innings. Cameryn Ortega pitching the final 2 2/3 innings in relief.

"I told the team after the game, if our pitchers hold somebody to four runs or under, we have to be able to produce as an offense," said Ewing. "Our pitching staff has done a nice job keeping us in games and keeping it close."

The teams will play a doubleheader on Sunday starting at noon (MT).

"We're right there," said Ewing. "We're knocking on the door offensively. I know this: Once we crack one, we'll crack several.

"We have two more opportunities tomorrow to try to find a way to take the series and get this going in the right direction."