@BearsSoftball Drops Sunday Game to San Diego

Sunday, March 12

Santa Barbara, CA

12:00 PM

University of Northern Colorado

7-16

University of San Diego

9-9

San Diego

Northern Colorado

3/12/2017 2:33:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Thomas Hoffman, uncbears.com

Santa Barbara, Calif – After a revised schedule change, Northern Colorado softball only had to face San Diego once on Sunday, in Santa Barbara. An early hole was too much for the Bears to climb out of, as UNC fell to the Torreros, 9-1, in six innings.

HOW IT HAPPENED
San Diego jumped on top of Northern Colorado early. Four consecutive hits brought in two quick runs for the Torreros and prompted head coach Shana Easley to dive into her bullpen, calling upon yesterday's hero, Jayme Reddacliff. With a slew of inherited runners, Reddacliff limited the dame best she could, allowing two more runs across before striking out the final out of the inning.

Erica Dick wasn't about to let San Diego run away with all the momentum. Dick singled through the left to ignite the Northern Colorado charge. Kenzie Kudrna followed Dick's single with one of her own, and Jordyn Wiatrak outdid them both, launching a double, bringing around Dick for the first UNC run of the game. UNC's attack would be haulted there, but drew one run closer and trailed by only three, 4-1, after one full inning.

Momentum sharply swung back in favor of San Diego after a lead-off home run. A single and a double later, the Terreros had their sixth run of the game, taking a commanding lead into the bottom of the second frame.

Mid-game, both offenses began to sputter, while both pitchers were settling into their respective grooves. Combined, the third and fourth innings were comprised of one total hit and two strikeouts.

Not until the sixth inning, did either team begin to exude confidence at the plate. Unfortunately for the Bear faithful, it was San Diego who regained form, loading the bases twice in the top of the sixth inning. Three more runs crossed the plate for the Torreros, extending their lead to 9-1.

Suddenly, trailing by eight in the bottom of the sixth inning, Northern Colorado needed to produce a run to at least by themselves a shot at a rally in the seventh and final frame.

UNC couldn't quite find the same magic they had on Friday afternoon against George Washington, however. Despite drawing the top of the order, Erica Dick, Kenzie kudrna and Rachel Johnson all went down in order, ending the game in six innings, 9-1.

KEY STAT
Batting with runners on base – San Diego went an incredible 10-20 (.500) with Torrero runners on the base pads. Comparatively, Northern Colorado went only 2-6 (.333).

MOST VALUABLE BEAR
Jordyn Wiatrak – Wiatrak went 1-2 on the afternoon, with a double and the Bears' only RBI.

IN THEIR WORDS
Shana Easley, Head Coach
"Offensively, we were able slightly from our last two games by significantly cutting down strikeouts and were taking aggressive swings. I was disappointed that we didn't play too our potential this game and we can't settle for anything less."

NOTABLES
-Freshman Hunter Damico pitched one inning, giving up only one hit and zero runs.
-No Northern Colorado pitcher surrendered a walk Sunday.
-UNC forced 10 total ground ball outs.
-Neither team recorded an RBI with two outs in an inning.

UP NEXT
Two more games in the Gaucho Classic Await Northern Colorado. Both against the host school, UC Santa Barbara, the games start a 1:00PMMST, with the second slated for a 3:15PM start.