Sacramento State Shuts Out Bears in Series Finale
March 12, 2006
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The University of Northern Colorado baseball team managed three hits and stranded five runners in the first two innings on Sunday's series finale at Sacramento State but managed just one hit and three base runners over the final seven innings in dropping a 6-0 decision to the Hornets.
The shutout was the third of the year suffered by Northern Colorado (5-12), who completed a 17-game road trip to start the 2006 season. The Bears will final play a home game on each Tuesday and Wednesday of this week when they host Division II foe Nebraska-Kearney.
After 10 hits in their series-opening victory on Friday, the Bears managed just eight hits in a 5-2 loss on Saturday and half that amount in the series finale on Sunday. Northern Colorado is still searching for its first series victory of the season.
After the start of the game was delayed nearly an hour and a half due to rain, both teams started slow, as neither scratched in the first two innings. Zach Brockman and Zach Harris each had singles for UNC in the first inning without being able to score and John Ray singled, Jeff Horn reached on an error and Seth Tartler walked in the second frame to load the bases before a flyout ended the inning.
Sacramento State (9-12) struck in the third inning, as Pat Keiper singled home a pair of runs and Kyle Atrat had a sacrifice fly.
An inning later the Hornets added two more runs when Brian Conradi blasted his first home run of the season, a two-run shot that made the score 5-0. Sac State added its final run of the game in the eighth when pinch hitter Devin Spurling singled home a run.
Hornets' starter Mick Joyce (4-0) would do the rest of the work, tossing a complete-game four-hitter. He struck out eight and walked three. After walking back-to-back batters in the fourth, Joyce retired 12 consecutive batters until Brennan Garr singled in the eight inning, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games.
Bears starter Matt Collins (1-2) lasted only three innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs while striking out two. In relief, Roy Allen worked four innings, allowing two runs, and Evan Linn pitched the final frame. Conradi was 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored for the Hornets while Gary Johnson was 3-for-4 with a run scored.
Northern Colorado will finally open up the home season this week when they host Nebraska-Kearney (12-4) at 2 p.m. on each Tuesday and Wednesday. The Lopers split a doubleheader at Mesa State this past weekend.
