Griz win 5-4, open league 3-0

Sunday, March 29

Missoula, Mont.

Noon

Montana

11-22, 3-0

Portland State

10-22, 0-3

Portland State

Montana

Photo by: Marley Barboeisel/University of

3/29/2026 5:14:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana softball team won its sixth straight game and opened its Big Sky Conference schedule 3-0 with a dramatic 5-4 victory over Portland State on Sunday afternoon at Grizzly Softball Field in Missoula.

After winning 5-0 and 10-5 on Saturday as the three-game series opened, Sunday's finale was tied 4-4 in the top of the sixth after the Vikings (10-22, 0-3 BSC) scored three runs to pull even.

Second-year Griz coach Stef Ewing woke up Sunday morning expecting nothing different.

"Anytime you have a Game 3 in a series, it's going to be a dogfight," she said. "There are no secrets at that point.

"I told the girls that this morning, that (Portland State is) not just going to come in and lay down today. You've got to scratch and claw. We did a good job."

After the Vikings tied it in the top of the sixth with a two-run home run and a two-out RBI double, Portland State got the first two outs in the bottom of the sixth on just six pitches.

Montana's 4-1 lead had slipped away, and now the game's momentum was eyeing a change of dugouts. The Vikings were starting to feel it for the first time all series.

A pair of Montana freshmen were up to the challenge. Jessica Cherms drew a two-out walk on a full count, then Ewing went to Kailee Mejia to pinch hit.

Mejia missed the season's first 27 games with a broken foot and only made her collegiate debut on Monday against Seattle. But she's looked like she belongs in every at-bat since.

"That bat plays, there is no doubt about it. It's nice to have somebody like that. I told her yesterday, I'm going to save you for a spot. You're going to get an opportunity," said Ewing. "Just be ready for it."

Gracie Walters' first pitch to Mejia caught the outside corner. She guessed inside for the next pitch and was right. She turned on the up-and-in pitch and doubled to the left-field corner.

"I was looking for an inside pitch and that's what I got," said Mejia. "The girls give really good feedback, so it was getting feedback from them and mentally preparing and always being ready.

"The girls have always had my back, especially coming off an injury, so I wanted to be there for them and show I have their backs too."

Cherms was off with contact and beat the throw to the plate to score what would be the game-winning run.

Mejia is less than one week into her playing season but she already has two doubles and a pair of runs batted in.

"When she goes up there, the moment is not too big and she doesn't get cheated. Her mindset is, I'm going to get this done," said Ewing.

Sunday's game was tense from the start, especially after PSU starter Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung, who Montana beat in Game 1, set the Grizzlies down in order in the first and second innings.

She struck out four of those six batters.

"Then they hit the solo home run but there was no panic when that happened," said Ewing, whose team fell behind 1-0 in the top of the third, before a Grizzly had reached base.

"Then we started to put some good at-bats together. They believe they can do it and will find a way."

Montana answered with a two-out rally in the bottom of the third. Kaci Kiblen was hit by a pitch, which turned the line-up over.

Grace Lopez tied it with a double to right-center and Chloe Saxton put Montana up 2-1 with a double to left-center that scored Lopez.

Lopez would add a single in the bottom of the fifth. For the series she went 6 for 7 with three walks, a .900 on-base percentage.

She had three doubles and a home run, giving her a 1.714 slugging percentage, with 12 total bases in seven at-bats. She scored seven runs in the series and drove in three.

Cherms had an RBI double in the fourth, Cockhill an RBI single in the fifth to make it 4-1.

Carah Sweet got the start and worked three innings, which was by design. She was replaced by Cameryn Ortega, who worked two innings. Ortega was replaced by Audri Elias, who threw one inning.

"When it's Game 3 and they've seen all of your pitchers, they are going to make adjustments a lot faster," said Ewing. "Our pitching staff continued to come in and have each other's backs."

After the Grizzlies went up 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth, Ewing went to Kaiana Kong to pitch the top of the seventh, with Montana holding a one-run lead.

Kong got the lead-off batter but then allowed a walk and an infield single, both coming from at-bats that went to a full count. Portland State had two on and one out.

Ewing made a visit to her junior pitcher and infield defense.

"I told her she had a great battle with the girl who had the infield hit. We don't need to worry about anything except that we have a force at first, second and third," Ewing said.

"Defense, take the ball wherever it takes you. (Kaiana), don't change a thing. We're going to do this. I wanted to reassure her that we're fine."

Cherms tracked down a well-hit ball to center for the second out, then Kong took care of things herself, getting a game-ending strikeout, giving Kong her second save of the season.

Elias got the win, her second as a Grizzly, as Montana lowered its team ERA, which was just shy of 7.00 two weekends ago, to 5.90.

Montana is 3-0 in league for the first time since 2021, sits alone atop the Big Sky standings and is on its first six-game winning streak since 2019.

Montana (11-22, 3-0 BSC) will host Northern Colorado (16-19, 2-1 BSC) on Friday and Saturday.