Griz fall on walk-off home run

Saturday, March 29

Greeley, Colo.

Noon

Montana

7-27, 0-3

Northern Colorado

12-21, 3-0

Montana

Northern Colorado

Photos: Jesus Ayala (UNC Athletics)

3/29/2025 4:09:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana softball team led early and rallied to tie it late before falling to Big Sky Conference favorite Northern Colorado on a two-out, walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh at Gloria Rodriguez Field in Greeley on Saturday afternoon.

The Bears (12-21, 3-0 BSC) won 9-6 to sweep the league-opening series.

"I'm not disappointed at all," said coach Stef Ewing, whose team scored four runs in the top of the first, then scored twice in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 6-6. "I thought we continued to battle and fight, and that's what we ask the team to do.

"The girls stayed really positive and had a lot of conviction. We're asking them to own their moments and we're telling them that we don't have to play perfect to compete. We did all of those things today."

Montana (7-27, 0-3 BSC) took advantage of a number of Northern Colorado miscues in the top of the first to build its largest lead against a Division I opponent in nearly a month.

Sveva Sweeney reached on an infield error, Hannah Jablonski was hit by a pitch and Madison Tarrant walked to load the bases with one out. Jessica Stanfield was then hit by a pitch to drive in a run and give the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead.

Montana went just 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position in Friday's doubleheader but Saturday was a new day. Jocelyn Eisen came up with the bases loaded and drove a two-out single to right that scored three, giving the Grizzlies a 4-0 lead.

Northern Colorado, with so many key offensive pieces back from teams that won the Big Sky tournament the last two seasons, would slowly chip away at Montana's lead.

The Bears scored once in the third, twice in the fourth and twice in the fifth to take their first lead of the game, 5-4, then added another run in the bottom of the sixth to go up 6-4.

Montana had hits in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings and had nearly as many hard-hit balls that Northern Colorado made solid defensive plays on to keep the Grizzlies stuck on four runs.

Montana left 10 runners on base on Saturday, matching a season high.

"It was one of those games that it felt like every break went Northern Colorado's way," said Ewing. "We hit so many balls hard that they made incredible plays on.

"We just kept fighting. As a coach, that's what you ask for. I love what the team brought today."

Even when Montana, trailing 6-4, had its first two batters of the top of the seventh fly out, the belief in the visitors' dugout remained high.

"Watching the quality of the swings we had today, the quality contact, we were right there. You knew it was about time we were going to get a break," said Ewing.

The break came when Jessica Stanfield ripped a ball that got through the third baseman and ended up in left field and with her on second base.

Makena Strong singled to right to drive in Stanfield and make it 6-5. Eisen kept the rally going with a single to left, and Grace Hardy walked to load the bases.

Montana tied it on a wild pitch but would end the inning with the bases loaded.

"We just needed an inch and we got an inch," said Ewing, of Stanfield's at-bat. "That started the rally, then we had a lot of people come through with quality at-bats.

"Even with two outs, we still believed things were going to happen for us because we'd been doing it the entire game, so the game was not over yet. The girls did a great job fighting and coming back."

Pitching in relief of starter Brianna Lachermeier, who allowed three runs and six hits over four innings, Cameryn Ortega got the first two Bears out in the bottom of the seventh on three pitches.

A two-out, four-pitch walk to Katie Walling put Montana in a tough spot, with Amailee Morales, who hit home runs in Games 1 and 2 on Friday and added another in Game 3 on Saturday, due up next.

Montana opted to intentionally walk Morales, putting runners on first and second for Krista Francia, who hit a 2-2 pitch over the fence in center to end it.

Northern Colorado's final six runs of the game were scored with two outs.

"Even on the last pitch, that was the pitch Cam wanted. She trusted it and did everything she could control. The kid put a good swing on it," said Ewing, whose team plays a single game at Colorado State on Sunday.

"There were so many great things we did today. Now we have to bring this same mentality into the game tomorrow and for the rest of conference play."

Anna Cockhill, Strong and Eisen each had two hits for Montana, which struck out just once on Saturday, matching a season low.

First pitch between the Grizzlies and Rams is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday morning in Fort Collins.