University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Big Inning Does In Bears
2/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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Boxscore | NM
Recap
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The 2010 season got underway for the Northern Colorado baseball team Friday afternoon at New Mexico and for the majority of the game the Bears held a lead over the 19th-ranked team in the nation, but one big inning gave the Lobos a 7-5 victory.
Northern Colorado led 5-0 going into the bottom of the eighth, but New Mexico - who beat previously top-ranked Texas in two-of-three to start the year - scored seven in the bottom half of the frame for the win.
Senior left-handed pitcher James Quisenberry got the opening day starting nod for the Bears on the hill and took care of business, throwing six scoreless innings. He allowed just five hits scattered throughout in 24 batters faced.
Offensively, senior Tyler Borzileri went 3-for-5 in the leadoff spot with one run scored and one RBI. Junior newcomers Bret Fanning and Kyle Hardman along with junior T.J. Berge each also had two hits in the first game of the year.
Sophomore leftie hurler Nate Steinmetz came on in relief, pitching one inning giving up four runs, two earned on two hits. He gave way to senior right-hander Forbes Scott, who a season ago posted the third most appearances in school history with 23. Scott was credited with the loss, allowing three runs, all earned on three hits with one walk and one strikeout.
New Mexico pitcher Austin House gets the win as he allowed one run in the eighth, walking one and striking out one. Rudy Jamarillo started on the hill for the Lobos, going 5.1 innings, allowing four runs, two earned on eight hits with two walks and no strikeouts. Edwin Carl also pitched 2.2 frames for the Lobos, giving up one run on four hits with one walk and he fanned four.
Chris Juarez went 3-for-5 for New Mexico to lead the team offensively
The teams were scoreless until the top of the third inning. With one out, sophomore Tony Crudo reached on an error and advanced to second on a single to left by Borzileri. Fanning, a New Mexico transfer, moved both of them up 90 feet with a bunt single. Senior Seth Budde then singled to right field to score both Crudo and Borzileri and give the Bears a 2-0 lead.
Senior Mike Raudenbush tripled to right field with two outs in the top of the fourth, but was stranded on the corner.
Hardman led off the sixth inning for the Bears with a double to right field and moved to third on a groundout by sophomore Casey Coy. The Lobos intentionally walked Raudenbush and Berge singled down the left field line to score Hardman. New Mexico made a pitching change, as Carl entered and promptly struck out Crudo, but Borzileri singled to score Raudenbush and give NC two more runs and the 4-0 lead.
Berge led off the eighth with a single and stole second base for the first steal of the season, then came around to score on a single to second base by Fanning for the 5-0 advantage.
The Lobos broke onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the eighth when a leadoff walk to defending Mountain West Player of the Week Max Willett turned into a run on a double by Justin Howard. An NC error and a single by Ryan Honeycutt gave the Lobos their second run and that was the end of the night for Steinmetz. With the bases loaded, Kyle Held drew a walk for the third run of the frame. With one out, pinch hitter Mitchell Garver hit a bases-clearing triple and he came around to score on a single by Gonzales to give NM the 7-5 win.
The Bears and Lobos return to the diamond tomorrow for a double header beginning at noon at Isotopes Park. Joe Willman and Joe Sawicki are the two scheduled pitchers for the Bears.
