@BearsSoftball Sweeps UCSB to End Gaucho Classic

Monday, March 13

Santa Barbara, CA

1:00 pm

University of Northern Colorado

8-16

University of California Santa Barbara

12-11

Northern Colorado

UC Santa Barbara

3/13/2017 6:01:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Thomas Hoffman, uncbears.com

GAME 1 (PDF) | GAME 2 (PDF)

Santa Barbara, Calif – For the first time in the 2017, Northern Colorado softball won each of their double-header matchups, closing out a pair of victories out against UC Santa Barbara, 6-5 and 7-1.

GAME 1
Much in the same way pitcher, Jayme Reddacliff had begun her outing on Saturday against Sacred Heart, the senior found the same confidence again taking on UC Santa Barbara.

At times, Reddacliff was special, forcing ground outs left and right, and picking up a strikeout along the way. In the second inning, Reddacliff needed a little help from her defense, loading the bases. Two straight ground-outs quickly ending the scoring threat and put the Bears offense back at the plate.

The fifth inning brought new fortune for Northern Colorado. Sophia Taylor kicked off the inning with a single and immediately moved over to second after a sacrifice bunt from Kaley Garcia. When Adeline Coldiron was hit by pitch, both runners moved over on a second sacrifice bunt, this time from Kenzie Kudrna.

Staring at the top of the order, the Gaucho's might've known they were in trouble when Erica Dick stepped to the plate. Dick calmly booted a double, scoring Taylor and Coldiron, giving UNC the lead, 2-0.

But the Bears weren't about to let off the peddle just yet.

An Emily Holtz sing and a Rachel Johnson Walk loaded the bases for Northern Colorado with UNC's home run queen, Jordyn Wiatrak, at the plate. On the 13^th pitch of the at-bat, Wiatrak catapulted a grand slam over the left field fence, launching the Bears to a 6-0 lead.

UC Santa Barbara sharply fought back, using two RBI singles and a two RBI double to shrink the gap between them and the Bears. In total, UCSB scored a combined four runs to climb within two.

Both teams held serve and after a clean top half of the seventh for UCSB, UNC was just two outs from securing their eighth win of the season. Anxiously, Reddacliff allowed one run in and watched as the bases became loaded after the third single of the inning. Not ready to let this win out of sight, Reddacliff calmed her nerves and forced a grounder to second, giving Northern Colorado the victory, 6-5.

GAME 2
After leaving Erica Dick stranded at first to start game two, UCSB went right at freshman pitcher, Autumn Anderson. A single, sacrifice bunt and wild pitch, set up nicely for a sacrifice fly, which came on the very next at-bat, handing the Gauchos the 1-0 lead.

A quiet second inning left Northern Colorado back at the plate in the third. A one-out walk from Cheyenne Talmadge was quickly followed by and Erica Dick single, placing UNC in scoring position. Both Talmadge and Dick stole third and second base respectively, despite a strikeout from Emily Holtz, bringing up Rachel Johnson. Johnson's single and a fielding error in left field, plated two, launching Northern Colorado into the lead, 2-1.

It wasn't until the fifth inning, that the Northern Colorado offense resurfaced. Wearing one for the team, Erica Dick trotted to first base after a hit-by-pitch. Rachel Johnson, continuing her breakout weekend, connected for another home run, extending Northern Colorado's lead, 4-1.

Meanwhile, in the circle, Hunter Damico, who came in during the third inning, started to settle into a grove. In both the third and fifth innings, Damico set the Gauchos down in order. She did give up a hit and a walk in the fourth inning, but a crisp 4-6-3 double play, ending any though of UCSB rally.

UNC re-loaded the bases during the top of the sixth inning on a single and a pair of errors. Concentration was not the Gaucho's strong suit, as an error and an illegal pitch, plus a Rachel Johnson walk brought in three more runs for the Bears, growing the lead to 7-1.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, head coach Shana Easley called upon Valerie Vidal to come in relief of Damico. Not to be outdone, Vidal showed a little 1-2-3 action herself, placing the Bears just a mere three outs away from their second straight win.

Vidal made quick work of the Gauchos in the seventh, utilizing all three defensive weapons, forcing a ground out, strikeout and fly out to end the game. With their 7-1 victory, UNC finished out the Gaucho Classic 4-2 and equaled their win total from last season.

KEY STAT
Stolen Bases – Going a perfect 5-5, the Bears were able to easily move runners into scoring position. Meanwhile, UCSB went only 1-3 in stolen base attempts.

MOST VALUABLE BEAR
Erica Dick – Erica went 3-5 at the plate, scoring four runs, totaling three RBI and was 3-3 in stolen base attempts.

IN THEIR WORDS
Shan Easley, Head Coach
"We ended on a great note, beating a hot team who had won eight in a row. We bounced back in the second game with much improved defense. Our leadership in the circle was great to see all day long and we're looking to build off of this momentum by keeping our standards high and expecting to play great softball each game moving forward."

NOTABLES
-Kenzie Kudrna went hitless in just one plate appearance Monday, going 3-4.
-The Bears were a perfect 5-5 in stolen base attempts.
-Northern Colorado played nearly perfect small ball, completing three successful sacrifice bunts.
-Both Hunter Damico and Valerie Vidal pitched a clean two and three innings, respectively.
-Rachel Johnson and Jordyn Wiatrak combined for eight total RBI.
-With their sweep Monday, UNC has now tied their win total from a season ago.

UP NEXT
Northern Colorado continues their California road swing, traveling up the highway to face Cal Poly for a double-header on Wednesday.