The Montana softball team achieved a notable doubleheader sweep against Weber State on Apr. 17 at Wildcat Softball Field in Ogden, Utah. The Grizzlies won the first game 4-2, marking their first victory over the Wildcats on their home field since 2017 and ending a ten-game losing streak against them dating back to 2023.
The outcome is significant as it keeps Montana in contention for the Big Sky championship despite being picked last in the preseason poll. The second game of the day saw Montana overcome a six-run deficit, scoring eleven unanswered runs—including six in the top of the seventh inning—to secure an 11-6 win.
Second-year coach Stef Ewing said, “I don’t think I’ll ever forget it, just an incredible seventh inning.” Ewing added, “Pretty special moment and time for this team to go out there and say, so what if we were picked to finish last in this conference? We’re just going to be us and do what we do.”
In Game 1, pitcher Carah Sweet limited Weber State to one hit through five innings before Kaiana Kong came in for relief. Kong did not allow a hit over more than an inning to earn her third save while Sweet improved her season record. “Carah was great and Kong looked phenomenal. Our pitchers are doing their job and (catcher Madison Tarrant) continues to call great games,” Ewing said.
Game 2 featured key performances from freshmen and sophomores as well as clutch hits by JoJo Christiaens, Mackenzie Bekofsky, Brianna Gutierrez, Jessica Cherms, Chloe Saxton, Tarrant and others. Freshman Audri Elias pitched effectively after entering during a difficult third inning situation. “She was phenomenal today,” Ewing said about Elias’s performance.
Montana ended the day with eleven extra-base hits including four doubles, one triple and six home runs—bringing their season total close to a program record set in 2022. Looking ahead to Saturday’s series finale at noon, Montana will attempt its first-ever series sweep against Weber State.
