April 13, 2008

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GREELEY, Colo. - Dominant pitching and clutch hitting helped the Northern Colorado baseball team to a doubleheader sweep over Montana State-Billings, 7-1 and 4-3 as the Bears improve to 4-2 at home this season and 11-22 overall. The Yellowjackets move to 11-27 with the pair of losses.

 

The Bears jumped out early in game one, scoring three runs on three hits in the first inning, including a double off the left field wall by junior Kevin Sandberg.

 

T.J. Berge led off the second inning with a double off the fence in left-centerfield, advanced to third on a balk and then scored when the catcher, Steve Larson, threw the ball back to the pitcher and it glanced off Andy Mees' helmet.

 

Starting pitcher Chris Reap retired the side in order in both the third and the fourth innings, setting down nine in a row before allowing a single to Cole Pryor in the fifth.

 

In the fourth, the Bears cushioned their total with a pair of runs. Mees singled and moved to third on a Cory Morales double. Chad Murray grounded out to move everyone up 90 feet and an error on a ground ball by Sandberg scored Morales.

 

Reap continued to pitch well for the Bears, retiring 16 of the last 18 batters he faced. He threw seven complete innings, allowing just one run on five hits, walking two and striking out five. Sean Peery was on the hill for the final two innings, striking out five of the seven batters he faced, allowing just one hit. Reap moved to 3-4 on the year with the victory, while Jeremy Knowles took the loss for the Yellowjackets after allowing seven runs (five earned) on nine hits with two walks and one strikeout in seven innings pitched.

 

In the second game of the twin bill, there was no score until the top of the fourth inning when Montana State-Billings got one run.

 

Each team turned a double play in the first inning to erase early threats. Senior left-handed pitcher Jon Klausing retired the side in order in the second inning and there was no damage in the third after a lead-off single.

 

The Yellowjackets added two runs in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 3-0, tallying three hits and knocked Klausing out of the contest. Senior Dan Kazell came on in relief, getting the catcher Joe Via to fly out to right field.

 

The Bears got one run back in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Mike Raudenbush nailed a single up the middle and moved to second on a wild pitch. Jeff Horn walked and after a pop-up by Santucci, Mees hit a Texas-leaguer to left to make the score 3-1.

 

Kazell allowed a double in the sixth, but struck out the side and in the bottom half of the inning the Bears took the lead off a pinch-hit bases clearing double to right center by Erik Whinery. The bases were loaded after Sandberg singled with one out and Cody Henry went to first on a fielding error by the third baseman and Raudenbush walked.

 

In the top of the seventh, Kazell again struck out the side, allowing two singles in the inning, but no damage was done as the Bears preserved the series sweep.

 

Klausing threw 4.2 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits, walking two and striking out six, while Kazell pitched the final 2.1, striking out six in 10 batters faced with three hits.

 

The Bears tallied five hits in the second game, with five different batters each getting one. Mees was the offensive star in the first game, going 3-for-4, while Morales also tallied two hits, going 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

 

Northern Colorado returns to the diamond on Tuesday against Metro State for one game. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. The Bears then host Utah Valley State and Air Force in a round-robin tournament Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Games are three days are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.