The Montana softball team will play a doubleheader against the University of Utah on April 15, taking a break from its Big Sky Conference schedule. The games are set to begin at 3 p.m. at Utah’s Dumke Family Softball Stadium in Salt Lake City and will be streamed on ESPN+.
This matchup gives the Grizzlies (15-26) an opportunity to compete against the Utes (27-15-1), who recently defeated No. 1 Texas Tech. The teams have met only once before, with Utah winning that game in St. George in early March 2017—a season when both teams reached the NCAA tournament.
Montana enters this contest tied for second place in the Big Sky Conference with a record of 5-4, trailing league leader Idaho State by one game as two weekends remain in conference play. The Grizzlies have shown improvement this season, ending several losing streaks and achieving their first Big Sky series win since 2022 after sweeping Portland State.
Key players for Montana include sophomore pitcher Carah Sweet, who has won six of her last seven decisions and lowered her earned run average to 4.25, and sophomore Anna Cockhill, who is close to breaking the program’s career stolen base record with just three more needed. Offensively, Montana has increased its home run production with 21 home runs over the last sixteen games and now totals thirty-three for the season—ten shy of tying their single-season record set in 2022.
Utah brings experience and momentum into Wednesday’s games under head coach Amy Hogue, now in her nineteenth year leading the program. The Utes have already more than doubled last year’s win total and are ranked seventh nationally for shutouts thrown by their pitching staff this season.
Following this non-conference matchup, Montana will return to Big Sky action with a series at Weber State later in the week.
