Softball With Eight Hits, Goes 0-2 On Day 1 of Cardinal Classic

Friday, February 19

Beaumont, Texas

9:00 AM

University of Northern Colorado

2-4

Alcorn State University

3-2

Alcorn State

NORTHERN COLORADO

2/19/2016 8:52:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Bears fell in both games on Friday, moving to 2-5 on the season

BEAUMONT, Texas – UNC Softball competed in day one of the Cardinal Classic on Friday, falling to Alcorn State 7-0 and Lamar University 6-0.

GAME 1: Northern Colorado 0, Alcorn State 7

In the first game of the day, the Bears managed three hits, but left runners on base in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, taking the loss with no runs scored.

In the third inning, Maddie Schmidt bunted for a single and stole second to advance. A wild pitch sent her to third, but two more outs for the Bears left her there.

UNC stranded another runner on third in the fourth inning after a triple by Erica Dick.

Freshman Ari Samaniego was the first batter up in the fifth, and was walked to put a runner on base for Northern Colorado for the third time in the game. A single to center field by Schmidt advanced Samaniego to second. A double play would have Samaniego out, but Adeline Coldiron made it on base immediately following after being hit by a pitch, advancing Schmidt to second.

A wild pitch sent the pair to second and third, but the third Bear out of the inning left the runners on base.

Lauren Paige made her pitching debut on the season, taking the loss for UNC. Paige pitched the first 4.2 innings, picking up three strikeouts before being relieved by freshman Valerie Vidal.

GAME 2: Northern Colorado 0, Lamar University 6

The second game was not much more successful, with starting pitcher Jayme Reddacliff giving up four runs in the first three innings to earn the eventual loss.

UNC did have a season-second-best number of hits with five throughout the game, including two by Dick, one by Cheyenne Talmadge, one by Kaley Garcia, and one by Rachel Johnson.

Talmadge got the game going right away with a single in the first at bat of the game. She moved to second on a wild pitch, and got around to third before being stranded with the third out of the inning.

Schmidt was left hanging on first in the second inning after walking, and Alex Sonoqui and Dick were stranded on first and second base, respectively, in the third inning after a walk and single between the pair.

Rachel Johnson made it to first with a single in the fourth inning, but was the lone Bear to make it on base before the inning was over. Garcia picked up her hit in the fifth, but was out on a double play to close out the inning.

Dick picked up her second single of the game in the sixth, but was put out on a fielder's choice that allowed Paige to reach first (Kudrna would pinch run for Paige). Kudrna advanced to second on a wild pitch, but was left on to close of the sixth.

Kelli Kleis relieved Reddacliff in the fifth inning and picked up two strikeouts before the game was over, making her season total five through seven innings on the year.

"I think our lack of success today is rooted in our preparation," head coach Shana Easley said, "which is solely on myself and our coaching staff. We had some good moments today, but overall we just need better execution."

Northern Colorado will play two more games tomorrow in day two of the tournament, starting with a matchup against Texas Southern at 9a.m. UNC's second game is set for a 1:30p.m. start time and will be against the University of the Incarnate Word.

For more information on the Bears this season, check out UNCBears.com, visit their official Facebook page, or follow them on Twitter at @BearsSoftball.