May 15, 2008

Box Score

OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. - Playing its first-ever game in the Eastern Time Zone, the University of Northern Colorado baseball team exploded for 17 runs against fellow independent NYIT (17-29-2), defeating the fellow Bears 17-2 to improve to 18-31 on the year.

Senior right-handed pitcher Chris Reap (5-5) threw five innings of no-hit baseball, not surrendering a hit until George Carroll hit a double to lead off the sixth inning. Reap threw a complete game, giving up just two runs on six hits, walking just one and tying his season high with seven strikeouts. Reap threw 115 pitches, with 78 coming for strikes in the victory.

Northern Colorado put a five-spot on the scoreboard in the first inning. With one out, seniors Cory Morales and Chad Murray had back-to-back single and then junior Kevin Sandberg had his 21^st double of the season to score Morales. Senior catcher Erik Whinery reached on a throwing error, getting an RBI when Murray crossed the plate. Sophomore Mike Raudenbush then drew a walk to load the bases and all advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch. Symons then walked in his first plate appearance and Whinery scored when all moved up on another wild pitch.

The NC Bears added one in the third inning and plated three more in the fifth. Raudenbush led off the fifth frame with a walk but was erased on a fielder's choice by Symons. Symons moved to second on a wild pitch and freshman T.J. Berge walked. Both advanced one bag on an Anthony Garcia single to right field and scored on a single by junior Andy Mees. Garcia scored on a sacrifice fly by Morales after a pitching change by NYIT.

After only scoring in the odd innings through the first five, the NC Bears exploded for four runs in the sixth. Murray started things off with a single through the left side. Sandberg then reached on a fielding error and both advanced on a walk by Whinery. Raudenbush doubled down the right field line to score both Murray and Sandberg and Whinery scored on a ground out by Symons. Berge kept things going with a single to right center but was stranded at third base.

NYIT got on the board with one run in the bottom of the sixth, but the Bears offense remained potent, scoring four in the top of the seventh. Murray hit the first pitch of the inning over the left field wall. Sandberg walked, Whinery was hit by a pitch and both moved up two bases on a pinch hit double by senior Sean Zyer. Symons added a sacrifice fly to center which scored Whinery and after Zyer moved to third on a wild pitch, a pinch hit single by Erik Hegstad scored him.

NYIT added one more run in the seventh, but a great play saved more as Zyer fielded a single by Jerry Smith, threw to Morales who relayed it to Murray for a tag and the third out.

Both Morales and Murray had three hits on the day, with Morales going 3-for-5 with one run and one RBI, while Murray went 3-for-4 with three runs and one RBI. Sandberg and Berge also had multiple hit days with two each as the Bears notched their 17 runs on 15 hits and were aided by four NYIT errors. The NYIT Bears had two runs on six hits and NC committed three errors.

The two teams take the diamond again tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. (Eastern) and close out the series on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern).