University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Friday, May 20
Greeley, Colo.
2:00 pm
University of Northern Colorado
15-32, 10-12
16
vs
18
New Mexico State
32-20, 20-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
New Mexico State
4
1
1
0
5
4
0
2
1
18
14
3
NORTHERN COLORADO
1
1
0
3
0
2
3
6
0
16
16
2
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: K. Bradish (8-3)
L: Howard, Jacob (1-2)
S: J. Galindo (7)
Batting:
2B: D. Johnson 1
3B: D. Johnson 1
HR: G. Popylisen 1 ; M. Fishback 1 ; T. Stine 2 ; B. Sakurai 1
RBI: D. Johnson 3 ; G. Popylisen 1 ; A. Botello 2 ; D. Hetzel 2 ; M. Fishback 1 ; L. Hatch 1 ; T. Stine 3 ; J. Koerper 2 ; B. Sakurai 2
Base Running:
RUNS: D. Johnson 4 ; G. Popylisen 2 ; D. Hetzel 1 ; M. Fishback 2 ; L. Hatch 1 ; T. Stine 3 ; J. Koerper 2 ; B. Sakurai 3
SB: D. Johnson 1
HBP: D. Johnson 1 ; M. Fishback 1
Batting:
2B: Minnick, Brett 1
HR: Yamane, Ryan 1 ; Huber, Cam 2
RBI: Yamane, Ryan 2 ; Maltese, Cole 1 ; Minnick, Brett 2 ; Tapia, Payton 1 ; Ek, Jacob 2 ; Huber, Cam 5 ; Nakakura, Corey 2
SH: Huber, Cam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Yamane, Ryan 3 ; Minnick, Brett 1 ; Tapia, Payton 1 ; Reese, Dan 3 ; Ek, Jacob 3 ; Huber, Cam 3 ; Nakakura, Corey 2
Game Leaders
dh/2b
AB
4
R
3
H
2
RBI
2
2b/3b
AB
6
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
1b/p
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
INF/RHP
/ Baseball
OF/LHP
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
@NCBearsBaseball Fall in Barn Burner, Still Clinch WAC Bid
5/20/2016 8:21:00 PM | Baseball
Northern Colorado baseball dropped a crazy 18-16 game Friday, but still clinched a spot in the WAC Tournament
GREELEY, Colo – There were runs a plenty on Friday afternoon at Jackson Field, as New Mexico State held off a furious comeback from Northern Colorado in an 18-16 decision. Despite the loss, UNC clinched a spot in the WAC Tournament next week, when Grand Canyon defeated UT-Rio Grande Valley 10-0 in seven inning. In the game the two teams combined for 30 hits, eight home runs, 11 extra base hits and five errors.
How it Happened
In a game featuring 34 runs, teams were scoring early and often. New Mexico State put the first big inning up in the opening frame, with four runs scored on four walks, a hit and an error.
UNC would get a run back in the bottom half of the inning from Ryan Yamane when he walked to begin the game and Payton Tapia hit a two-out single to bring him home.
Both teams would score another run in the second, Northern Colorado's coming on Cam Huber's first career home run to left center field.
By the time the first third of the game ended, NMSU held a 6-2 advantage over the Bears.
UNC would cut its lead to one in the fourth inning when Huber earned his second RBI of the day with a well-placed squeeze bunt past the mound on the second base side to score Dan Reese and then Yamane hit his first career home run, a two-run long ball.
New Mexico State would answer in a big way though in the fifth and sixth inning scoring nine runs combined. Five coming in the fifth and four in the sixth. In those two innings, NMSU hit three dingers.
Northern Colorado would not give up the fight though starting to chip away at the Aggies lead with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the sixth. The inning started with Huber reaching on an error form NMSU second baseman Brent Sakurai and coming home later in the inning along with Yamane.
The Aggies lead would be down to five after another multi-run inning for Northern Colorado in the seventh. Corey Nakakura would get a pinch hit single scoring Reese and on an errant through that sailed out of Jackson Field by New Mexico State center fielder Daniel Johnson also score Jacob Ek. Nakakura would be the third run of the inning when
he came in on a wild pitch.
The NMSU lead would go back to seven after a two run top of the eighth.
The bottom of the inning, was the big one for UNC. The Bears would end up scoring six runs and bat around during it. Key hits during the rally included an Ek two-run single up the middle with the bases loaded and Huber's second home run of the day, this one a three-run shot.
New Mexico State would get more run in the game, when third baseman Trey Sakurai hit his second home run of the game, a solo shot.
UNC would go down in order in the ninth to end it.
Game Changing Moment
With so many runs scored in the game, it's a missed opportunity that changed the game. The Bears pulled within one of New Mexico State in the fourth, UNC was unable to keep the Aggies off the board in the fifth. The nine runs scored in the next two innings by NMSU would be enough to keep the game out of reach for UNC the rest of the way.
Players of the Game
Northern Colorado: Cam Huber took advantage of earning a start due to some bad luck to his teammates Nick Tanner and Rob Cashel having to sit out due to injury. Huber ended up having the best game at the plate of his career going 2-for-4 and hitting not only his first, but also second career home run. He also had a sacrifice hit leading to his five RBIs along with his three runs scored.
New Mexico State: Third baseman Trey Stine also had two home runs on the day. He finished his day going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored. He also walked twice.
Notables
- The 34 runs scored by the two teams is the most in a game the season that the Bears have played in.
- Sixteen runs scored is a season high for Northern Colorado.
- With all of the runs scored it was not a fun day to be a pitcher for either team, as 12 different arms were used by both teams. The longest outing of the day was five innings by NMSU's starter Kyle Bradish, while the shortest was three batters faced and no outs recorded by New Mexico State's Chris Butcher.
- Even with scoring 16 runs and recording 16 hits, UNC tying a program record with 19 strikeouts. The record was set previously this year against CSUN on February 27th.
- The time of 4:05 was not only the longest nine inning game of the year, the longest game regardless the number of innings.
- Six UNC hitters recorded two or more hits on the day led by Jacob Ek's three.
What's Next?
Northern Colorado will wrap up its regular season schedule on Saturday when they look to avoid a sweep against New Mexico State. The Bears could also be playing for a shot to secure the No. 5 seed in the WAC Tournament depending on the results of the CSU Bakersfield – North Dakota game Friday night. First pitch for Senior Day is set for 12 pm.
How it Happened
In a game featuring 34 runs, teams were scoring early and often. New Mexico State put the first big inning up in the opening frame, with four runs scored on four walks, a hit and an error.
UNC would get a run back in the bottom half of the inning from Ryan Yamane when he walked to begin the game and Payton Tapia hit a two-out single to bring him home.
Both teams would score another run in the second, Northern Colorado's coming on Cam Huber's first career home run to left center field.
By the time the first third of the game ended, NMSU held a 6-2 advantage over the Bears.
UNC would cut its lead to one in the fourth inning when Huber earned his second RBI of the day with a well-placed squeeze bunt past the mound on the second base side to score Dan Reese and then Yamane hit his first career home run, a two-run long ball.
New Mexico State would answer in a big way though in the fifth and sixth inning scoring nine runs combined. Five coming in the fifth and four in the sixth. In those two innings, NMSU hit three dingers.
Northern Colorado would not give up the fight though starting to chip away at the Aggies lead with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the sixth. The inning started with Huber reaching on an error form NMSU second baseman Brent Sakurai and coming home later in the inning along with Yamane.
The Aggies lead would be down to five after another multi-run inning for Northern Colorado in the seventh. Corey Nakakura would get a pinch hit single scoring Reese and on an errant through that sailed out of Jackson Field by New Mexico State center fielder Daniel Johnson also score Jacob Ek. Nakakura would be the third run of the inning when
he came in on a wild pitch.
The NMSU lead would go back to seven after a two run top of the eighth.
The bottom of the inning, was the big one for UNC. The Bears would end up scoring six runs and bat around during it. Key hits during the rally included an Ek two-run single up the middle with the bases loaded and Huber's second home run of the day, this one a three-run shot.
New Mexico State would get more run in the game, when third baseman Trey Sakurai hit his second home run of the game, a solo shot.
UNC would go down in order in the ninth to end it.
Game Changing Moment
With so many runs scored in the game, it's a missed opportunity that changed the game. The Bears pulled within one of New Mexico State in the fourth, UNC was unable to keep the Aggies off the board in the fifth. The nine runs scored in the next two innings by NMSU would be enough to keep the game out of reach for UNC the rest of the way.
Players of the Game
Northern Colorado: Cam Huber took advantage of earning a start due to some bad luck to his teammates Nick Tanner and Rob Cashel having to sit out due to injury. Huber ended up having the best game at the plate of his career going 2-for-4 and hitting not only his first, but also second career home run. He also had a sacrifice hit leading to his five RBIs along with his three runs scored.
New Mexico State: Third baseman Trey Stine also had two home runs on the day. He finished his day going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored. He also walked twice.
Notables
- The 34 runs scored by the two teams is the most in a game the season that the Bears have played in.
- Sixteen runs scored is a season high for Northern Colorado.
- With all of the runs scored it was not a fun day to be a pitcher for either team, as 12 different arms were used by both teams. The longest outing of the day was five innings by NMSU's starter Kyle Bradish, while the shortest was three batters faced and no outs recorded by New Mexico State's Chris Butcher.
- Even with scoring 16 runs and recording 16 hits, UNC tying a program record with 19 strikeouts. The record was set previously this year against CSUN on February 27th.
- The time of 4:05 was not only the longest nine inning game of the year, the longest game regardless the number of innings.
- Six UNC hitters recorded two or more hits on the day led by Jacob Ek's three.
What's Next?
Northern Colorado will wrap up its regular season schedule on Saturday when they look to avoid a sweep against New Mexico State. The Bears could also be playing for a shot to secure the No. 5 seed in the WAC Tournament depending on the results of the CSU Bakersfield – North Dakota game Friday night. First pitch for Senior Day is set for 12 pm.
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