Bengals take finale over Grizzlies

Saturday, April 19

Pocatello, Idaho

1 PM

Montana

8-37, 1-11

Idaho State

32-13, 11-1

Montana

Idaho State

Photo by: UM Photo/Coral Scoles-Coburn

4/19/2025 3:57:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana softball team closed out its three-game series at Idaho State with an 11-1 five-inning loss on Saturday afternoon at Direct Communications Field at Miller Ranch Stadium in Pocatello.

The Bengals (32-13, 11-1 BSC) claimed the Big Sky Conference championship with the win. The Grizzlies dropped to 8-37 on the season, 1-11 in league.

Idaho State starter Megan Meracle faced 20 batters over five innings, limiting Montana to three hits.

Madison Tarrant singled up the middle in the second, Makena Strong had an RBI double in the fourth and Anna Cockhill singled to left in the fifth.

After Jessica Stanfield was hit by a pitch with one out in the fourth, Strong drove one into the gap in left-center for her sixth RBI of the season.

Stanfield, who hit three home runs in Friday's doubleheader, nearly had her fourth of the weekend in the top of the first but ISU's Gracie Smith reached over the fence for a highlight catch.

Smith then led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run and hit another in the second. Jenna Kearns added a three-run home run in the second to give the Bengals a 9-0 lead.

Idaho State finished the three-game series with a dozen home runs and 74 total bases while hitting .465.

"Idaho State is a good team. They swing it really well," said coach Stef Ewing. "We have to be able to play all three facets of the game well like we've talked about all year."

Grace Haegele got the start for Montana. She lasted 1 2/3 innings. Brianna Lachermeier pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, allowing three hits.

Montana will close out its regular-season schedule with a home series against Sacramento State (22-20, 7-5 BSC) at Grizzly Softball Field next weekend.

"We're looking forward to next weekend and Sac State and doing everything we can to prepare for that series and use that as momentum going into the conference tournament," added Ewing.

The teams will play a doubleheader at 2 p.m. on Friday, then wrap up the series with a game at noon on Saturday.