April 22, 2008

Box Score

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - In a game that was started late due to rain in the area, the Northern Colorado baseball team could not hold a lead against the Arkansas Razorbacks, falling 9-2 in the first of a two-game series. Northern Colorado moves to 14-25 on the year, while Arkansas is now 23-17.

Arkansas scored one run on a solo homerun in the bottom of the second inning by Andrew Darr, but the Bears answered in the third on a pair of runs both coming around on a sacrifice fly by senior Cory Morales, though T.J. Berge's run was unearned on an error by the right-fielder for the 2-1 NC advantage.

Northern Colorado did not score the rest of the contest and Arkansas had a three-run fourth inning and a four-run fifth inning, adding one in the sixth for the 9-2 victory.

Senior Chad Murray (0-1) got the first start of his career on the mound for the Bears, throwing 3.2 innings. He allowed four runs on three hits, walking four and striking out one. Sophomore Eric Skufca got the final out of the fourth inning and faced three batters in the fifth, but was unable to record an out, giving up three runs (one earned) on one hit with one walk. Senior T.R. Keating pitched the next two frames allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits, walking one and striking out three. Matt Buck and Dan Kazell also each threw one inning, allowing no runs on no hits.

Evan Cox picked up the win for the Razorbacks, his first of the season as he threw three innings, allowing no runs and just one hit.

Junior Mike Raudenbush tallied two of the Bears' five hits, getting singles in both the third and fourth innings. He also walked once for a 2-for-3 evening. Andy Mees, Kevin Sandberg and Erik Hegstad tallied the team's other three base knocks.

The two teams will meet on the diamond again tomorrow. Game time has been changed to 11:05 a.m. Mountain (12:05 Central). Northern Colorado then returns home to host Dallas Baptist on Friday and Saturday in a three-game series.