BOXSCORE: Montana State-Billings

GREELEY, Colo. - It wasn't a typical ending to a ballgame, but Northern Colorado started its 2009 baseball season with a victory, defeating Montana State-Billings 7-6 on a sacrifice flyout to the first baseman in foul territory.

The Yellow Jackets took the 2-0 lead in the second inning, but senior Kevin Sandberg led off the bottom half of the inning with a long homerun to left-center to bring the Bears within one, 2-1. The score remained 2-1 until the bottom of the fifth when senior first baseman Andy Mees hit a three-run homer to right field to give NC a 4-2 advantage.

In the top of the seventh, Montana State-Billings scored two to knot the score at 4-4, but the Bears immediately answered with a run in the bottom of the inning when Adam Hilker scored on a Mike Raudenbush single up the middle.

In the top of the ninth, Sandberg came into pitch, just the second appearance of his career. He surrendered two runs, but once again the Bears had an answer. Freshman Casey Coy doubled down the right field line to lead off and Hilker singled, scoring Adrian Schenk who was running for Coy. Hilker advanced to second base on a fielding error by the right-fielder and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Leadoff hitter Tyler Borzileri then popped out to the first baseman in foul ground and Hilker hustled home for the win.

Junior right-handed pitcher Joe Sawicki threw the first six innings for the Bears, allowing just two runs on seven hits and struck out six. James Quisenberry threw the next 1.2 frames, giving up two runs on three hits with three strikeouts, while Forbes Scott got the only batter he faced out. Sandberg pitched the ninth inning, recording all three outs by strikeouts but surrendering two runs on four hits. Sandberg did pick up the win as his offense stepped up in the bottom of the frame.

"To get the first win out of the way, it's a pretty good thing," said Head Coach Kevin Smallcomb. "Sawicki mixed it up really good, pitching pretty well in very windy conditions. We're still searching for the closer on this team. If we're close tomorrow we're going to throw Kevin out there again and see. When they got the tying run, Kevin didn't buckle, didn't give in."

Steve Scott threw 6.2 innings for the Yellow Jackets, giving up five runs on six hits, walking two and striking out three, while Jeff Bjorklund pitched the final 1.2 innings, giving up two runs on three hits with two strikeouts and no walks.

Raudenbush led the Bears with a 3-for-4 performance from the plate with one RBI and one run scored, while Sandberg went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Hilker was the other Bear to have multiple hits on the afternoon, going 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored, including the winning one.

The Bears and Yellow Jackets meet on the field again tomorrow in a doubleheader and conclude the four game series on Sunday. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. with Sunday's game slated to begin at noon.