Griz push Huskies, fall 7-5

Saturday, March 8

Pocatello, Idaho

3 PM

Montana

5-16

Washington

17-7

Montana

Washington

Photo by: Ella Palulis/University of Montana

3/8/2025 7:59:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

Washington ran its winning streak to 11 games with a victory over Montana on Saturday afternoon at the Black and Orange Classic in Pocatello, Idaho, but the Grizzlies made the Huskies earn it.

Montana opened the scoring in the top of the first and had the potential game-tying run on the bases in the top of the seventh, but Washington held on for a 7-5 victory.

"It felt last weekend like our team turned a corner, and we brought that same energy today and played our game," said first-year coach Stef Ewing.

"We were never out of it. Really happy with the way the team competed today and went after it. They did a good job."

Facing Washington starter Rylee Rehbein, who pitched for Montana last season, the Grizzlies chased their former teammate before she had gotten an out.

Anna Cockhill led off the game with an infield single, then stole second. Sveva Sweeney drew a walk, then Rehbein hit Hannah Jablonski with a pitch, loading the bases with nobody out.

That was it for Rehbein, who watched from the dugout as Kynzie Mohl drove in a run on a fielder's choice. Jocelyn Eisen followed with her own run-scoring fielder's choice to make it 2-0.

"I told the team we needed to throw the first punch today, and we did," said Ewing.

Washington scored one in the bottom of the second off Griz starter Brianna Lachermeier, then tied it in the bottom of the third.

The Huskies went ahead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four runs on four hits.

"The biggest takeaway from today is that there are precious moments in games when we have to be able to control baserunners," said Ewing. "They beat us at that part of the game today."

Montana had just two baserunners between the second and sixth innings before making things tight in the seventh.

Makena Strong opened the inning with a pinch-hit single to left, the first of five hits in the inning for the Grizzlies.

Sweeney made it 7-3 with an infield single, Jablonski made it 7-4 with a single to left and Presley Jantzi made it 7-5 with a sacrifice fly on a foul ball down the left-field line.

The game ended with Grizzlies on first and second base.

"It was great to see us make some adjustments in the last inning," said Ewing. "To be able to come back against them and have an opportunity to tie the game in the last inning is what we have to do.

"We just have to find a way in those middle innings to put something together."

Cockhill had two of Montana's six hits and scored twice. Lachermeier (2-2) threw 3 1/3 innings and took the loss. Cameryn Ortega threw the final 2 2/3 innings.

Montana will face Washington at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Boise State at 12:30 p.m.