March 9, 2008

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

The University of Northern Colorado baseball team (5-7) dropped both games in a doubleheader at Nebraska this afternoon, falling 3-2 and 8-5 to the host Huskers (9-2).

The first game was scoreless until the bottom of the third inning when the Huskers scored two runs on two hits. The Bears got one run back in the fifth inning. Junior Kevin Sandberg led off the inning with a double down the right field line and scored on an Erik Whinery single through the left side after a Chad Murray walk.

NC tied the game at 2-2 in the seventh inning. Sandberg again led off the inning, this time drawing a base on balls. He moved to second when Cody Henry was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Murray. Whinery grounded into a double play, but Sandberg was able to score.

Nebraska again took the lead in the eighth inning, scoring the winning run with two outs.

Senior pitcher Jon Klausing, throwing against his previous club, pitched six innings. He surrendered two runs on two hits, walking six and striking out five. Sean Peery came on in relief, pitching the final two innings, giving up one run on one hit, walking three and fanning one. Peery moves to 1-2 on the season with the loss.

In the second game of the day, the Huskers jumped out early, scoring four runs in the first inning, adding one in the second, two in the fourth and one in the fifth before the Bears crossed home plate.

NC scored four runs on three hits in the sixth inning. Junior Andy Mees walked for the first base runner of the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sandberg hit his third home run of the season, this one to left center for two runs. Henry then singled and would score on the next play. Murray doubled, advanced to third on the throw home and scored on an error by the catcher.

The Bears attempted another rally in the seventh inning, but managed just one run. Cory Morales took advantage of a throwing error to start the inning off at second base. He scored on a double by Adam Symons as the team scored one run on two hits in the frame.

Neither team scored in the final two innings for the final score of 8-5.

Dan Kazell pitched one inning for the Bears, giving up five runs on six hits and walking one in just 10 batters faced. Joe Sawicki threw 4.2 innings surrendering three runs on five hits while walking three and Jason Banks pitched the final 1.2 innings, striking out three in seven batters faced. It was the first decision of the year for Kazell as he moves to 0-1.

Northern Colorado had five runs on eight hits with two errors, while Nebraska had eight runs on 11 hits with two errors in the second contest.

The four-game series concludes tomorrow with a single game beginning at 1:35 p.m. (Central).