Peterson's Power is Not Enough as UNC Softball Drops Two

Box Score - UNC vs. New Mexico | Box Score - UNC vs. North Texas

DENTON, Texas -- The University of Northern Colorado softball team needed a roster full of Erin Petersons on Friday at the Mean Green/Wells Fargo Classic.

The Bears' slugger clubbed four home runs and had 10 runs batted in during two games but the Bears still suffered a 9-7 extra-inning loss to New Mexico. UNC then lost an 8-7 decision to tournament host North Texas.

UNC is now 2-14 on the season and will play two more contests Saturday at the tournament.

New Mexico 9
Northern Colorado 7 (8 innings)

The University of Northern Colorado softball team was helped by a strong effort from the offense but could not slow down the New Mexico Lobos in the opening game of the 2004 Mean Green/Wells Fargo Classic.

Senior Erin Peterson cracked a three-run homer in the bottom of the third to give UNC a 4-3 lead. But the Lobos would respond with a single run in the fifth and a pair of runs in the sixth to take a 6-4 lead.

Peterson responded again in the bottom of the seventh as she nailed a two-run home run with one out to tie the game and force extra innings.

New Mexico came right back in the top of the eighth and posted a three-run inning to take control of the contest. The Bears could muster only a single run in the bottom of the eighth and suffered the 9-7 setback.

Danelle Sayler took the loss after pitching the final four innings in relief of starter Stacey Moon. Sayler dropped to 0-4 on the season.

North Texas 8
Northern Colorado 7

The Bears tried to bounce back and score a victory in game two of the tournament but could not slow down the North Texas offense and was tagged with an 8-7 loss.

Peterson continued her torrid pace by smacking to more home runs in the nightcap. Peterson got the offense going with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third to pull UNC within 4-2.

However, the North Texas offense was relentless and the Mean Green tallied two more runs in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth inning.

The Bears would begin their comeback again in the fifth inning as junior Whitney Platten hit a two-run homer to pull UNC within 8-5. Then Peterson went to work in the bottom of the sixth as she belted a three-run home run to pull UNC to within a single run at 8-7.

However, after Peterson's power display the Bears could not get a single runner to reach first base and took the one-run loss to the Mean Green.

Stephani Miller suffered the loss as she gave up four runs in three innings of work. Miller dropped to 2-5 on the season.