| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Colorado (17-23) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Colorado State (19-18) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | X | 6 | 9 | 2 |
| @ Fort Collins, Colo. | Ram Field | ||||||||||
| Northern Colorado Batting |
|---|
| 2B: Mikayla Duffy; Kaitlin Flynn |
| 3B: none |
| HR: Lindsey Smith |
| Colorado State Batting |
|---|
| 2B: Roberts, Lys |
| 3B: none |
| HR: none |
Rough sixth inning costs Softball against Rams
By ZACH BOND
UNCBears.com
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- The Northern Colorado softball team was hurt by a rough sixth inning in its 6-2 loss to Colorado State on Wednesday afternoon.
The loss was the Bears' (17-23, 2-6 PCSC) third in a row to their instate-rivals and their seventh-straight overall.
With the game tied going into the bottom half of the inning, the Bears' troubles finding the strike zone cost them four runs and, eventually, the game.
Kelci Cheney started off the inning in the circle and got the leadoff batter to fly out, but also gave up a double and RBI single before being relieved by Megan Wilkinson.
After entering the game, Wilkinson struggled to throw strikes -- walking the first two batters she faced before giving up an RBI single.
Wilkinson got the next batter out, but then gave up two more bases-loaded walks to stretch the Bears' deficit to four.
After getting down 1-0 in the second inning, Northern Colorado actually took the lead with a two-run rally keyed by a Lindsey Smith leadoff homerun. It was Smith's team-leading eighth homer of the season and her 37th RBI.
Freshman Kaitlin Flynn kept the scoring coming with an RBI double to left field that scored Mikayla Duffy and gave the Bears' the lead.
Unfortunately, the lead didn't last for long as Colorado State came back in its half of the fourth inning to even the score back up at two runs apiece.
Cheney got the start for Northern Colorado and put in 5.1 innings of work. She finished her day with three earned runs, three walks and a strikeout.
Wilkinson faced six batters but got just one out while giving up two runs on one hit and four walks. In total, the Bears pitching staff issued seven free passes.
Northern Colorado will look to get back on track over the weekend as they come back home for a key PCSC series against Mountain Division leader Portland State. The four-game series will consist of two pairs of double-headers beginning on Saturday, April 14. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for noon at Butler-Hancock Softball Field.
