Late rally comes up short

Friday, March 21

Missoula, Mont.

3 PM

Montana

7-22

Oregon State

12-13

Oregon State

Montana

Photo by: Ella Palulis/University of Montana

3/21/2025 8:55:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana softball team opened its three-game home series against Oregon State with a 5-3 loss to the Beavers on Friday on a blustery afternoon at Grizzly Softball Field.

Montana (7-22) fell behind 5-0 before mounting a rally in the bottom of the seventh.

After collecting two hits against OSU starter Logan Hulon through the game's first six innings, the Grizzlies scored three runs on four hits off Hulon in the bottom of the seventh.

The game ended with a runner on third and the potential tying run at the plate.

The rally actually started with a lead-off out, but it was a deep drive to left-center by Hannah Jablonski that was caught at the warning track.

"Hannah leading off the inning and just missing that ball, it was like we were finally able to make that adjustment on (Hulon)," said Montana coach Stef Ewing.

Madison Tarrant singled through the left side, Makena Strong singled up the middle, and Breiana Bonkavich followed with a sacrifice fly to left to score Montana's first run of the game.

Jocelyn Eisen pinch hit and doubled with two outs to make it 5-2. Chloe Saxton then tripled to right-center to drive in Eisen and make 5-3.

The game ended with Hulon recording her 12th strikeout, tied for the fourth most by an opposing pitcher in Montana's history.

"When you have a (strike) zone like we had today, it was letting the girls know, you can't let that determine the outcome of your at-bat," said Ewing. "You have to be able to go after it.

"We kind of took two and a half times through the lineup to really make the adjustment."

The game was tight through two innings, with Anna Cockhill and Grace Haegele getting hits off Hulon and Haegele holding the Beavers to one.

Oregon State went up 3-0 in the top of the third when Haegele gave up two singles, then a three-run home run to Lici Campbell, her third of the season.

The Beavers added another run in the third, then went up 5-0 in the fifth and had the bases loaded with two outs when Haegele got an inning-ending pop-up to short.

That kept Montana within comeback range into the bottom of the seventh.

"This team believes it can win every game and that we're in it," said Ewing. "We just have to be able to make adjustments offensively sooner."

Haegele worked five innings, giving up four earned runs while striking out two. Brianna Lachermeier threw the final two innings. She allowed just a single hit while striking out two.

"Our pitchers did their job. If we hold a team like that to five runs, that's what we need to do in the circle," said Ewing.

"We have to play a little better defense tomorrow and swing the bat like we did that last couple innings and we'll be right there."

The series will continue with a game at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The finale is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday.