Bears Softball Falls in D-I Independent Softball Championships Opener
April 28, 2006
GREELEY, Colo. - The University of Northern Colorado softball team committed seven errors which led to nine unearned runs in a 10-1 run-rule loss to South Dakota State on the opening day of the 2006 Division I Independent Softball Championships.
Northern Colorado (10-32) had the same number of hits as its opponent South Dakota State (20-30) did, however, the errors proved to be very costly. SDSU, which defeated rival North Dakota State in the first game of the day and is now 2-0 at the event, scored in the top of the first inning to grab an early lead.
But the Bears responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame, as Hillarie Van Otterloo singled home Ashley Geist.
Unfortunately it would not get better for the Bears, as the Jacks scored three times in the second, twice in the third and four times in the fifth. The game was called after five innings due to the greater than 8-run lead.
SDSU pitcher Jordan Bottorff cruised after her team gave her the lead, allowing only two hits after the first inning. Bottorff (1-2) allowed five total hits and one run in getting the complete game.
Bears starter Shea Carpenter allowed two hits and six unearned runs in three innings in the circle. Van Otterloo came on to pitch the final two innings, allowing three hits and four runs, three of which were unearned.
Steph Kuhl, who hit two home runs in the first game of the day, was 1-for-3 with two RBI in her second game of the day.
Northern Colorado is back in action at 4:30 p.m. this afternoon when they host Utah Valley State, a team that lost 9-0 to North Dakota State in its first game of the event. South Dakota State returns to action on Saturday morning when they play Utah Valley State at 9 a.m.
