University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Willman pitches a gem against #14 Arizona, Bears fall 2-1
3/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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Boxscore | NC Season Stats
TUCSON, Ariz. – Junior left-handed pitcher Joe Willman was able to keep the 14th-ranked Arizona Wildcats offense in check, but his Northern Colorado teammates were also kept in check as the Bears baseball team lost the final game of the three day series, 2-1.
Willman (0-2) pitched the complete game, the sixth of his career. He allowed just two runs on 10 hits, not walking a single batter and striking out six, just two shy of his career high of eight.
The Bears (0-7) offense had just three hits on the day with all three coming in the first inning for the 1-0 lead.
Senior Bret Fanning once again started the Bears offense off on the right foot, with a first pitch shot past the short stop. Junior Adam Hilker tried to move him over on the bunt, but a heads up play by the pitcher got the lead runner. Hilker was caught trying to steal second and then senior T.J. Berge hit a double over the left fielder's head. Junior Casey Coy drew a walk and junior Jarod Berggren singled up the middle to score Berge, but Coy was thrown out at third to end the frame.
Willman retired the Wildcats (13-3) in order in the first with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to Coy. Arizona got a pair of singles off Willman in the second, but both were stranded.
Fanning walked to lead off the third, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Hilker. Berge was plunked in the right shoulder by a pitch and Coy advanced both runners with a slow roller between first and second base. Berggren walked to load the bases but sophomore Harrison Lambert grounded out to the second baseman to end the frame with no runs scored.
Willman continued to work quickly, allowing just one hit in the third on a slow chopper up the middle. Two hits and a hit batsmen tied the score in the bottom of the fourth.
Arizona threatened in the bottom of the fifth, but Willman got a strikeout and flyout to end the frame with the score still knotted at 1-1.
The Wildcats took their first lead of the day in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly. Berggren made a great diving catch in center for the out, but two hits earlier in the frame gave UA a 2-1 advantage. Neither team was able to score over the last three innings, resulting in the 2-1 final.
Northern Colorado returns home for its season home opener against Colorado School of Mines on Wednesday.
