University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Tuesday, March 10
Lincoln, Neb.
12:35 pm
University of Northern Colorado
2-7
3
at
9
Nebraska
8-6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Colorado | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 4 |
| Nebraska | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | X | 9 | 8 | 0 |
@NCBearsBaseball Drops Series Opener to Nebraska
3/10/2015 7:58:00 PM | Baseball
LINCOLN, Neb. – After spotting Nebraska seven runs in the first two innings, UNC's baseball team finally gained some composure, but it was far too late as the Cornhuskers cruised to take the first of this two-game series 9-3 at Haymarket Park.
Northern Colorado's starting pitcher Spencer Applebach was roughed up for five earned runs on two hits and four walks in his inning-plus of work. Dylan Shiraki inherited a jam in the second inning and allowed two more runs but settled down over his next three frames to only allow three total hits with two strikeouts.
UNC got on the board in the fourth inning when catcher Payton Tapia doubled to right-center field to score Jensen Park from second to cut the score to 7-1.
The Bears relief pitching was the star of the show, holding Nebraska to just three baserunners between the third and seventh innings. At the plate, UNC got the leadoff man on in every inning between the third and eighth but came away with just two extra runs, in the eighth off a single from Brandon Vaughn and a sac fly from Tapia.
The Huskers added a pair of runs in the eighth, as well, recording two hits and two stolen bases while taking advantage of two UNC errors to account for the final margin.
"We need to eliminate the free passes, and I've been preaching to our guys we need to start now," head coach Carl Iwasaki said. "We had 10 freebies — six walks and four errors. If we eliminate that, we have a chance to compete."
Alex Werbach pitched a perfect sixth inning for UNC, and Brett Minnick pitched 1.2 innings, giving up two runs on two hits with a strikeout.
Tapia went 1-for-2 at the dish with his pair of RBIs, Park scored two runs and Rob Cashel went 2-for-4 and added a nifty diving grab in the right-field gap at the start of the fifth inning.
UNC outhit Nebraska 11-8, but Nebraska's few hits hurt quite a bit. Blake Headley had two triples for the Huskers, and everybody in the top-four of the order scored at least one run.
"These guys are veterans, and they hunt opportunity," Iwasaki said of Nebraska's lineup. "They timely hit today in the eighth inning and at the start. We can defend against that, but we have to eliminate the costly free passes."
The Bears will have freshman Zach Heath on the mound Wednesday as he makes his second career start. He last pitched Saturday against North Dakota State when he went 4.2 innings and gave up one run on three hits with three strikeouts.
"The reason to come back tomorrow is because we got a bad taste in our mouth," Iwasaki said. "Heath will start for us, and I think he learned from the other guys today, and he's going to come out and give us a chance early on."
The Bears face the Huskers at 12:35 p.m. MT Wednesday at Haymarket Park.
Northern Colorado's starting pitcher Spencer Applebach was roughed up for five earned runs on two hits and four walks in his inning-plus of work. Dylan Shiraki inherited a jam in the second inning and allowed two more runs but settled down over his next three frames to only allow three total hits with two strikeouts.
UNC got on the board in the fourth inning when catcher Payton Tapia doubled to right-center field to score Jensen Park from second to cut the score to 7-1.
The Bears relief pitching was the star of the show, holding Nebraska to just three baserunners between the third and seventh innings. At the plate, UNC got the leadoff man on in every inning between the third and eighth but came away with just two extra runs, in the eighth off a single from Brandon Vaughn and a sac fly from Tapia.
The Huskers added a pair of runs in the eighth, as well, recording two hits and two stolen bases while taking advantage of two UNC errors to account for the final margin.
"We need to eliminate the free passes, and I've been preaching to our guys we need to start now," head coach Carl Iwasaki said. "We had 10 freebies — six walks and four errors. If we eliminate that, we have a chance to compete."
Alex Werbach pitched a perfect sixth inning for UNC, and Brett Minnick pitched 1.2 innings, giving up two runs on two hits with a strikeout.
Tapia went 1-for-2 at the dish with his pair of RBIs, Park scored two runs and Rob Cashel went 2-for-4 and added a nifty diving grab in the right-field gap at the start of the fifth inning.
UNC outhit Nebraska 11-8, but Nebraska's few hits hurt quite a bit. Blake Headley had two triples for the Huskers, and everybody in the top-four of the order scored at least one run.
"These guys are veterans, and they hunt opportunity," Iwasaki said of Nebraska's lineup. "They timely hit today in the eighth inning and at the start. We can defend against that, but we have to eliminate the costly free passes."
The Bears will have freshman Zach Heath on the mound Wednesday as he makes his second career start. He last pitched Saturday against North Dakota State when he went 4.2 innings and gave up one run on three hits with three strikeouts.
"The reason to come back tomorrow is because we got a bad taste in our mouth," Iwasaki said. "Heath will start for us, and I think he learned from the other guys today, and he's going to come out and give us a chance early on."
The Bears face the Huskers at 12:35 p.m. MT Wednesday at Haymarket Park.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: King, G. (1-0)
L: Applebach, Spencer (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Tapia, Payton 1 ; Reese, Dan 1
RBI: Vaughn, Brandon 1 ; Tapia, Payton 2
SF: Tapia, Payton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Park, Jensen 2 ; Mulvaney, Justin 1
PO: Tapia, Payton 1
Batting:
2B: Darby, A. 1
3B: Headley, B. 2
RBI: Headley, B. 2 ; Miller, B. 3 ; Alvarado, L. 1 ; Darby, A. 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Schleppenbac 2 ; Boldt, R. 2 ; Headley, B. 2 ; Miller, B. 1 ; Reveles, S. 2
SB: Reveles, S. 2
HBP: Miller, B. 1
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