April 19, 2008

Box Score

GREELEY, Colo. - Trailing 15-2 entering the eighth inning, the Northern Colorado baseball team put a 10 spot on the scoreboard and added two in the bottom of the ninth to almost mount one of the largest comebacks in school history, but fell just short, dropping a 15-14 game to Utah Valley in the second day of the Northern Colorado Triangular.

With the bases loaded full of Bears and one out, senior Jeff Horn hit a bases clearing double to close NC within 10. Freshman T.J. Berge then hit a double and senior Sean Zyer walked to set up the second bases loaded situation of the inning. Senior Cory Morales again cleared the bases with a double to left that took a wicked hop over the left fielder's head. Senior Chad Murray hit the team's fourth double of the inning to score Morales and junior Erik Hegstad then smashed a two-run homer to left field for the 10^th run of the frame.

After senior Dan Kazell got out of the ninth inning surrendering just one hit, the Bears went back on offense and threatened to win the contest. With two outs and Zyer on first base after reaching on a fielder's choice Morales added to his RBI total with a two-run shot to left field. Murray walked on four straight pitches, but was stranded when Kevin Sandberg grounded out.

The Bears tallied 14 runs on 14 hits and played a clean game with no errors, while Utah Valley scored 15 runs on 22 hits with one error.

Sophomore right-hander Joe Sawicki started on the hill for Northern Colorado, giving up seven runs on nine hits and striking out three to fall to 1-2 on the year. Senior Sean Peery threw the next 1.2 innings, giving up four runs on six hits and striking out one. Senior Eric Skufca pitched three innings also giving up four runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out two and Kazell gave up just one hit in one inning of work.

Utah Valley starter Marcus Moore picked up the win, throwing seven innings giving up two runs on seven hits, walking five and striking out two. Jace Brinkerhoff, the team's best hitter, picked up the save throwing the ninth inning, giving up two runs on one hit, walking one.

Morales and Zyer each tallied three hits in the contest, both going 3-for-5, while Morales led the team with five RBI. Hegstad and Horn also had multiple hit games with two each and Mike Raudenbush kept his hitting streak alive, going 1-for-5 for a nine-game streak.

Northern Colorado closes out the triangular tomorrow, hosting Utah Valley at 10:00 a.m. and Air Force at 2:00 p.m.