April 28, 2008

Game one
Game two

OREM, Utah -- The least the Bears could do is offer up some bananas and ice cream with all these splits.

Northern Colorado halved its third doubleheader in as many days Monday, April 28, when it fell to Utah Valley 10-3 in a lopsided six-inning game-one defeat before coming back in the nightcap and winning 7-2.

In each doubleheader split -- the first two came against Utah State on Saturday and Sunday -- the Bears have lost game one before roaring back in game two.

Aside from keeping Northern Colorado at .500 in its last six games, Monday's split also further entrenched this year's squad as the best NCAA Division I team in school history. The Bears, at 14-35, are now two games better than the 2005 and 2006 teams, which both won 12 games. Coach Jen Schunke's squad has three games remaining to increase that historic lead, including a single game tomorrow against BYU and another doubleheader with Utah Valley (12-30) to end the season on Wednesday.

After suffering through a run differential-shortened game one Monday, Northern Colorado turned in a complete game, literally and figuratively, in its game-two victory.

Freshman Kelli Henderson (4-8) started in the circle for the Bears, and she allowed just two hits and struck out four in her second going-the-distance win in as many days.

At the plate, freshman Courtney Maihi led Northern Colorado by finishing two for two with a two-run home run (her second of the year) and a double.

Henderson helped herself with a pair of doubles and two runs scored, sophomore Jessie Schoepflin continued her offensive surge by adding a pair of hits, and freshman Kelley Johns hit her third home run of the season.

Jamie Juelfs (5-14) started in the circle in game one for Northern Colorado, but the Wolverines cuffed her around in her 1 1/3 innings. She surrenderd eight runs on seven hits in the loss and was relieved in the second inning by Hillarie Van Otterloo, who finished out the game and allowed just two runs on seven hits.

Freshman Jaycee Lovato led the team with two hits in the loss, and Van Otterloo (eight) and Mackenzie Barrett (three) each had a stolen base.

Schoepflin got her team-leading eighth triple of the year in the loss, which figures to move her even farther up the national charts. She entered this week's game fifth in the nation with seven three-baggers, while the national leader was at nine.

Having a national NCAA category winner on top of having arguably one of the best seasons in school history? Now that would be a cherry on top.