Softball Drops Two Games to Utah and UTEP on Saturday

Feb. 24, 2007

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

EL PASO, Texas - Kelsey Dumler and Ashley Geist combined for five hits on Saturday afternoon, though the University of Northern Colorado softball teams dropped a pair of games to Utah and UTEP at the Miners' Invitational

In the opener, the Utes (7-5-1), found their offense early, scoring six runs in the first two innings to pull ahead, eventually winning 8-0

The Bears (2-12) looked primed to get on the board in the first inning when Jessica Schoepflin opened the game with a leadoff single to left center. A Heather Buckley infield single put runners on first and second, and both advanced on a wild pitch. However, a pair of strikeouts sandwiched between a groundout ended the Bears' threat.

After the first, the Bears were unable to advance any runners past first.

Hillarie Van Otterloo (1-5) took the loss, allowing three earned runs in 2 1/3 innings of work.

Against the Miners (9-5), Northern Colorado found more success on offense, though they lost 13-4. The Bears tallied six hits in the nightcap, with Dumler finishing 2 for 3 and Geist finishing 2 for 2.

After UTEP got on the board first with two runs in the top of the first, the Bears put up three runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead.

Geist opened the rally with a single to left field. Abby Turner pinch ran for Geist, and took second on a passed ball. Alyse Kochenberger drove in Turner on a basehit to left field, and advanced to third on an error by the Miners' leftfielder. Addie Yestness followed with a two-run homer, plating Kochenberger.

UTEP retook the lead with three runs in the third and added another in the fourth. A seventh-run sixth inning but them up for good, though Dumler scored in the bottom of the seventh on a Kochenberger fielder's choice.

Shea Carpenter (1-7) took the loss, allowing eight runs in six innings of work.