Softball earns first three-game winning streak this season at Utah Valley

BOX SCORE: at Utah Valley (game one)
BOX SCORE: at Utah Valley (game two)

OREM, Utah -- Northern Colorado softball used a steady onslaught in game one and a single big inning in game two to earn a doubleheader sweep at Utah Valley on Saturday afternoon and finish its four-game road trip with an impressive 3-1 record.

The Bears scored in four of the seven innings in their 9-4 win in the first game Saturday and followed that up with a five-run second inning to jump all over the Wolverines and cruise to a 5-3 victory.

Sophomore pitcher Jamie Juelfs (1-4) picked up the first win of her second season at Northern Colorado (11-20) in the first contest, going the distance in the circle for the Bears, allowing four earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts.

At the plate, Northern Colorado scored twice in the first inning, three times in the third and two times each in the fourth and fifth innings to put away Utah Valley. The Bears' attack was led by Jessie Schoepflin, Jessica McNabb and Kailee Vessey, who each had two hits, and freshman Melisa Ryba, who blasted her second home run of the season over the center-field fence in the first inning.

Northern Colorado then came back in the second game and won their third game in a row -- the first time that's happened this season -- and fifth game in its last six, thanks largely to a five-run second innning that saw 11 Bears come to the plate and featured three hits, two Utah Valley errors and a two-run home run to left from freshman Erin Wilkinson.

Courtney Maihi (3-2) started in the circle for Northern Colorado in the win and pitched into the fifth inning while allowing just three earned runs on six hits. Kelli Henderson shut the door in relief, striking out two in her two-and-two-thirds innings.

Next up for the Bears will be a doubleheader against instate rival Colorado State, next Saturday, March 28, in Ft. Collins. First pitch of the first game is set for noon.