May 12, 2007

Final Stats

GREELEY, Colo. - The Northern Colorado baseball team could not hold on to a 3-1 lead, falling 4-3 in the second of a two-game series with Sacramento State this afternoon at Jackson Field.

The Bears put together a rally in the bottom of the seventh, but with the bases loaded and two outs, State's right fielder Montana Dye made a diving catch on a long fly ball by senior Grady Gorman and the Hornets came up scoreless. The inning started with a Cory Morales groundout, then senior John Ray doubled to left center. He advanced to third on a wild pitch. Designated hitter Chad Murray walked and after a Kevin Sandberg popout, Adam Symons was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Sacramento State took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as Gary Johnson scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Gabe Jacobo. The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the fourth inning when the Bears put one on the scoreboard. Ray reached base on a fielder's choice, was moved to second by a Murray walk and Sandberg singled back up the middle to knot the game at 1-1.

After a three-up, three-down inning for Bears pitcher Dan Kazell, Northern Colorado scored two in the bottom of the fifth. Anthony Garcia got things started with a single up the middle and scored on a double to left center by Zach Brockman. Morales moved Brockman to third and after a Ray walk, Murray singled up the middle to score Brockman and give the Bears the 3-1 advantage.

Kazell pitched 7 2/3 innings for the Bears, giving up two earned runs on six hits with just one walk and five batters struck out. He also retired 12 straight batters from the third inning to the first out of the seventh inning. Matt Collins faced three batters, giving up two hits and a walk when Jason Banks came in for the final inning and a third, giving up no hits with two strikeouts in four batters faced.

Billy Sinacori picked up the win for the Hornets, coming on in relief of starter Mick Joyce. Joyce pitched the first six-and-a-third, giving up three runs on seven hits with four walks and five strikeouts, while Sinacori threw an inning and two-thirds, giving up just one hit with one walk and one strikeout. Mitch Lively recorded the save for Sacramento State, facing five batters, giving up one hit and walking one.

Sandberg posted three of the Bears nine hits on the day, going three-for-five from the plate, while Morales also chipped in a pair of singles. Johnson had three of the Hornets' eight hits and scored two of their runs, while David Flores also had two hits, with two RBI.

The third and final game of the series takes place at Jackson Field tomorrow at noon. The Bears conclude their home season with a two-game series against South Dakota State on May 17-18. Both games are scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m.