April 12, 2008

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GREELEY, Colo. - A six-run first inning and a seven-run fourth inning helped propel the Northern Colorado baseball team to a 19-8 victory over Montana State-Billings Saturday afternoon amid windy and cold conditions. The Bears improve to 9-22 on the season, while the Yellowjackets fall to 11-25.

Northern Colorado scored 19 runs on 16 hits and committed three errors in the contest, while Montana State-Billings scored eight runs on 10 hits and tallied five errors on the day. Reliever Jason Banks picked up the win on the hill for the Bears, improving to 1-3 on the year, while Steve Scott took the loss for the Yellowjackets to move to 1-2.

Junior outfielder Mike Raudenbush was one of the offensive highlights for the Bears, going 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. Senior catcher Erik Whinery went 3-for-5 with three RBI and one run scored.

Junior Erik Hegstad nailed two triples in the contest, giving the Bears their first three-baggers of the year, hitting one in each of the first two innings.

Junior Joe Sawicki got the starting nod for the Bears, throwing 4.2 innings, allowing all eight MSUB runs (four earned) on eight hits. He walked just one and struck out a career-high seven batters. Banks gave up just two hits in 4.1 innings, walking one and striking out five.

Montana State-Billings scored two runs in the top of the first inning, but the Bears rebounded to score six in the bottom half of the first frame as 12 batters went to the plate. Neither team scored in the second, but the Yellowjackets added three in the third to pull within one, 6-5. NC tallied two in the third and then exploded for a season-high seven innings in the fourth stanza as 11 batted.

The Yellowjackets again attempted a rally, scoring three in the fifth to close within seven, 15-8, but the Bears put four more on the board in the last four innings for the 19-8 victory.

The Bears had six extra base hits in the contest, with senior Chad Murray tallying two doubles, Hegstad's pair of triples and senior Cory Morales, junior Cody Henry, senior Jeff Horn and Raudenbush all adding a double in the game.

All nine starting hitters reached base at least once in the game as the Bears move to 2-2 at home this season.

The two teams return to the diamond tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at noon. The Bears then host Metro State on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.