University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Sunday, March 5
Greeley, Colo.
12:00 pm
University of Northern Colorado
6-7
8
vs
2
North Dakota State
6-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
North Dakota State
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
11
1
Northern Colorado
1
0
1
5
0
0
0
1
X
8
11
0
@NCBearsBaseball Picks Up 8-2 Win Sunday & Series Win
3/5/2017 4:44:00 PM | Baseball
Northern Colorado baseball earned the series win on Sunday by beating NDSU 8-2
GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado baseball wrapped up its first home series of the year with an 8-2 win over North Dakota State Sunday afternoon. The win secured a series win as well, as the Bears won three of the four games.
How It Happened
Cole Maltese got UNC on the board first with a solo shot to put the team up 1-0. The Bears loaded the bases after the home run, but were unable to cash in on the situation.
North Dakota State's Ben Peterson once again came up with a big hit for the Bison in the third inning. With a runner on first he launched his third home run of the series to left center field putting NDSU up 2-1.
The lead did not last long, as UNC responded in the bottom half of the inning with a two-out rally. Brett Minnick doubled down the left field line to keep the inning going and start the rally. Teammate Payton Tapia would bring him home in the next at-bat when he singled up the middle to tie the game up at two.
It was another two-out rally in the fourth when Northern Colorado took control of the game. Evan Johnson single to put runners on the corners, and pressure on the Bison. Maltese and Jack Pauley hit back-to-back singles bringing home Alex Kiel who was on third, and Johnson to put UNC up 4-2.
Minnick and Tapia continued the inning with a pair of walks, scoring another run for Northern Colorado and setting up another bases loaded situation for freshman Matt Brukhart. The Eaton native struck out his first time facing the same situation in the first, but came through this time for the Bears, with a two-run single to center field.
UNC led by the score of 7-2 through most of the remainder of the game, only adding on an insurance run in the eighth.
Game Changer
Cole Maltese delivered big hits all game long for Bears in their victory Sunday afternoon. The junior went 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored. He put UNC up early with a solo home run, his fifth of the year, in the first. He then came through with the go-ahead hit in the fourth to score Alex Kiel.
Notable
- Northern Colorado's offense continued to pile up hits on Sunday with 11, eight of the nine starters recorded a hit.
- Outside of Maltese, Brett Minnick also had a multi-hit game finishing 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a walk and hit by pitch.
- Starter Keenan Lum earned a quality start and his first career win. He went six hiings allowing just two runs on 10 hits and striking out four.
Quotable
Head Coach Carl Iwasaki
Overall thoughts on the weekend
"Picking up the series win was something we needed to do. That is always our goal to pick up the series win, which is not always easy to do. We played a very good North Dakota State team this weekend and had to battle to earn the wins. It something we have to get use to and make it a habit of picking up series wins."
About pitching over the weekend
"They have realized their potential and now we need to work to continuously meeting that potential. We are in a place right now where we are finding our way to be consistent on the mound. For example, Keenan Lum today gave up the big fly, but after that he shut it down. If our starters are going out and getting quality starts, we will be in good shape."
What the team needs to do to keep the momentum going on the road
"We will have to play well against the three opponents facing some quality competition. I believe we have the team to compete against Nebraska, Nebraska-Omaha and Wichita State which will help us moving forward in the year in WAC play."
Jack Pauley
On team's offense so far this season
"The long ball has helped us out a lot and helped us get back in ball games. Even if they have been solo shots they have been confidence boosters."
About early success
"It has just been a great atmosphere to step into. Everyone from the coaches to the last guy in the dugout have been so welcoming and supportive. Having that support just helps in all aspects on and off the field."
Evan Johnson
Keys to get this rolling
"We are just a dangerous team on offense no matter how many outs there are in an inning. From top to bottom and especially in the middle of the line up its tough to get outs on us. We feed off each other and have a lot of fun out there which has helped us early on."
What's Next?
Northern Colorado starts a seven-game road trip on Tuesday when they play at Nebraska. First pitch is set for 12:35 pm MT.
How It Happened
Cole Maltese got UNC on the board first with a solo shot to put the team up 1-0. The Bears loaded the bases after the home run, but were unable to cash in on the situation.
North Dakota State's Ben Peterson once again came up with a big hit for the Bison in the third inning. With a runner on first he launched his third home run of the series to left center field putting NDSU up 2-1.
The lead did not last long, as UNC responded in the bottom half of the inning with a two-out rally. Brett Minnick doubled down the left field line to keep the inning going and start the rally. Teammate Payton Tapia would bring him home in the next at-bat when he singled up the middle to tie the game up at two.
It was another two-out rally in the fourth when Northern Colorado took control of the game. Evan Johnson single to put runners on the corners, and pressure on the Bison. Maltese and Jack Pauley hit back-to-back singles bringing home Alex Kiel who was on third, and Johnson to put UNC up 4-2.
Minnick and Tapia continued the inning with a pair of walks, scoring another run for Northern Colorado and setting up another bases loaded situation for freshman Matt Brukhart. The Eaton native struck out his first time facing the same situation in the first, but came through this time for the Bears, with a two-run single to center field.
UNC led by the score of 7-2 through most of the remainder of the game, only adding on an insurance run in the eighth.
Game Changer
Cole Maltese delivered big hits all game long for Bears in their victory Sunday afternoon. The junior went 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored. He put UNC up early with a solo home run, his fifth of the year, in the first. He then came through with the go-ahead hit in the fourth to score Alex Kiel.
Notable
- Northern Colorado's offense continued to pile up hits on Sunday with 11, eight of the nine starters recorded a hit.
- Outside of Maltese, Brett Minnick also had a multi-hit game finishing 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a walk and hit by pitch.
- Starter Keenan Lum earned a quality start and his first career win. He went six hiings allowing just two runs on 10 hits and striking out four.
Quotable
Head Coach Carl Iwasaki
Overall thoughts on the weekend
"Picking up the series win was something we needed to do. That is always our goal to pick up the series win, which is not always easy to do. We played a very good North Dakota State team this weekend and had to battle to earn the wins. It something we have to get use to and make it a habit of picking up series wins."
About pitching over the weekend
"They have realized their potential and now we need to work to continuously meeting that potential. We are in a place right now where we are finding our way to be consistent on the mound. For example, Keenan Lum today gave up the big fly, but after that he shut it down. If our starters are going out and getting quality starts, we will be in good shape."
What the team needs to do to keep the momentum going on the road
"We will have to play well against the three opponents facing some quality competition. I believe we have the team to compete against Nebraska, Nebraska-Omaha and Wichita State which will help us moving forward in the year in WAC play."
Jack Pauley
On team's offense so far this season
"The long ball has helped us out a lot and helped us get back in ball games. Even if they have been solo shots they have been confidence boosters."
About early success
"It has just been a great atmosphere to step into. Everyone from the coaches to the last guy in the dugout have been so welcoming and supportive. Having that support just helps in all aspects on and off the field."
Evan Johnson
Keys to get this rolling
"We are just a dangerous team on offense no matter how many outs there are in an inning. From top to bottom and especially in the middle of the line up its tough to get outs on us. We feed off each other and have a lot of fun out there which has helped us early on."
What's Next?
Northern Colorado starts a seven-game road trip on Tuesday when they play at Nebraska. First pitch is set for 12:35 pm MT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lum, Keenan (1-1)
L: Blake Stockert (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Carter Thompson 1
HR: Ben Petersen 1
RBI: Ben Petersen 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Drew Fearing 1 ; Ben Petersen 1
Batting:
2B: Minnick, Brett 1
HR: Maltese, Cole 1
RBI: Maltese, Cole 3 ; Pauley, Jack 1 ; Tapia, Payton 2 ; Burkart, Matt 2
SH: Kiel, Alex 1
SF: Maltese, Cole 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lawson, Dean 1 ; Johnson, Evan 1 ; Maltese, Cole 2 ; Pauley, Jack 1 ; Minnick, Brett 2 ; Kiel, Alex 1
SB: Lawson, Dean 1 ; Pauley, Jack 1
HBP: Minnick, Brett 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
cf/lf
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballUT
/ BaseballINF/RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballWeek 3 - Head Coach Lamb Press Conference
Wednesday, September 10
Head Coach Ed Lamb Press Conference 9/3/2025
Wednesday, September 03
Izzi Bennett and Bella LePore Post Game Press Conference vs Colorado State
Wednesday, September 03
Head Coach Lyndsey Oates Post Game Press Conference vs Colorado State
Wednesday, September 03
