March 24, 2008

Box Score

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Northern Colorado offense got started early and never looked back, winning a 13-9 shootout over Florida International in the final game of the Bob Schaefer Memorial Tournament at Arizona State. The Bears' baseball team improves to 7-15 with the victory, while FIU falls to 9-16.

Eight of the nine starting Bears' hitters tallied at least one hit in the game, which saw a combined 22 runs on 25 hits and 10 errors. Northern Colorado tallied 13 runs on 14 hits with five errors, while the Golden Panthers had nine runs on 11 hits and also committed five errors.

NC scored two runs in the first and two in the second to take the early 5-0 advantage. Senior Adam Symons was the leadoff hitter, reaching on an error by the Panthers short stop. Symons stole second base, just the team's fourth swiped bag of the season, and he moved to third on a ground out by senior Chad Murray. Junior Kevin Sandberg walked, putting runners on first and third and Erik Whinery doubled down the left field line scoring both.

In the second, Erik Hegstad led off with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by senior Anthony Garcia. Garcia then recorded the team's second stolen base of the game and T.J. Berge walked.  FIU then changed pitchers, as Eric Horstmann came on in relief of starter Jorge Ramos. Symons hit a bunt single back and Horstmann, loading the bases. Morales singled to score one and a sacrifice fly by Murray scored another.

The Bears committed two errors in the bottom half of the third inning to aid the Golden Panthers, who scored three runs on three hits for the 5-3 score. NC answered with three of its own in the fourth inning.

Berge walked to start the frame and moved to second on a single by Symons. Morales attempted a sacrifice bunt, but a throwing error by Horstmann put him on second and Berge scored. Murray had his second sacrifice fly of the game, scoring Symons and Morales moved to third. Whinery singled up the middle for the team's eighth run of the afternoon.

Each team scored one run in the fifth inning and Northern Colorado added two in the eighth. In the fifth, Berge doubled to lead off and scored on a single by Morales. In the eighth, Garcia singled up the middle with two outs and moved up 90 feet after a walk to Berge. After another pitching change, both advanced a bag on a wild pitch and scored on a fielding error.

Florida International had a huge eighth inning, scoring five runs on four hits and the Bears had two errors to make the score 11-9. NC added two insurance runs in the final inning and FIU failed to score.

Joe Sawicki pitched seven innings for the Bears, allowing eight runs (six earned) on 10 hits, walking just one batter and striking out five. Eric Skufca threw one frame, giving up one run on one hit and walking one, while Jason Banks picked up his first save of the season, walking two and striking out one in five batters faced in the ninth inning.

Ramos took the loss for FIU and was the first of five pitchers thrown by the Golden Panthers.

Northern Colorado travels straight from Tempe, to Lincoln for a rematch with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The teams play a single game on Tuesday and Wednesday before the Bears finally have their season home opener on Friday against South Dakota State.