Offense Ignites Lifting @BearsSoftball Over Portland State

Saturday, April 1

Portland, OR

2:00 pm

University of Northern Colorado

14-23, 0

Portland State University

5-21, 0

Northern Colorado

Portland State

4/1/2017 4:02:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Thomas Hoffman, uncbears.com

BOX SCORE (PDF)

Portland, Ore. – After dropping two games to the Vikings on Friday, Northern Colorado came out with a vengeance Saturday. A monstrous fifth inning propelled the Bears to an eight run throttling of Portland State, 8-0, in the series' final contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams' pitchers started Saturday's contest in fine form. For Jayme Reddacliff, who didn't surrender an earned run in Friday's matchup against the Vikings yet still inherited the loss, picked up her fine form in the bottom of the first inning, sending Portland State down in order.

The Bears' offense looked to follow in suit of Reddacliff in the top of the second inning. Jordyn Wiatrak and Lauren Paige each mustered a single, providing UNC with two early base runners with no one out. After a Kenzie Kudrna single, the Bears had the bases loaded, but that's where things sputtered. Two straight pop outs allowed PSU out of the jam and kept the game knotted at zero.

In the circle, Jayme Reddacliff worked quickly to give the Northern Colorado batters another crack at breaking the scoring open. The Queensland, Australia native pitched a perfect two innings, silencing the Viking fans on hand.

Erica Dick tried to spark a fire in the top of the third inning, leading off with a double to left field. Flames finally caught when Rachel Johnson singled down the left field line, driving in Dick and giving Northern Colorado their first lead of the weekend.

With Reddacliff dealing in the circle, Shana Easley's crew went right back to work in the top of the fourth inning. Patience was not only a virtue in the inning for UNC, it was fortuitous, as four walks, the last from Sophia Taylor drove in the Bears' second run.

Portland State ended Reddaclliff's perfect game in the bottom of the fourth inning, leading off with a single. Though the Viking would inevitably make their way to second base, Jayme and her defense remained unfazed, combining for three straight outs to blank PSU for the fourth straight inning.

For the second time in three innings, UNC led off an inning with a double, in the top of the fifth in came from Jordyn Wiatrak. Once Lauren Paige moved Wiatrak to third off a single from the designated player, Adeline Coldiron hastily utilized a sacrifice fly to provide the Bears with their third run of the contest.

Two batters later, pinch hitting for Talmadge, Alex Sonoqui walked on six pitches to load the bases for Erica Dick, who had been intentionally walked twice already across the weekend. Finally with a chance to create some damage, Erica doubled for the second time Saturday, clearing the bases for three more runs. Up stepped the freshman, Sophia Taylor, hitless in two prior plate appearances. Taylor wouldn't walk away empty-handed this time, launching a two-run home run, and suddenly up, 8-0, UNC needed only three outs to close out the game.

Now with an opportunity to close out the game, Reddacliff pitched the bottom of the fifth no different than any prior inning Saturday. Even trying to use a pinch hitter, Portland State couldn't help going down in order, giving Northern Colorado their first win of the weekend, 8-0.

KEY STAT
Batting with runners on base – Saturday, the Bears were 6-15 (.400) with runners on, while Portland State was a mere 0-3 (.000).

MOST VALUABLE BEAR
Jayme Reddacliff – Reddacliff pitched a near perfect five innings of softball. She gave up only one hit, recorded three strikeouts, and needed only 66 pitches (50 of them strikes) to dismantle the Vikings.

IN THEIR WORDS
Shana Easley, Head Coach
"I was glad to see the response after yesterday's games. Jayme pitched a great game for us and minimized any threats from Portland State."

"Our at-bats looked night and day from yesterday. We were more disciplined and expecting to get hits up and down the lineup."

NOTABLES

Jayme Reddacliff pitched her first one-hitter of 2017
Reddacliff is now tied for the program record for all-time wins with 28
UNC was nearly perfect leading off innings, only failing to reach base safely once in five lead-off opportunities.
The Bears' defense didn't allow a single extra-base hit.

UP NEXT
Northern Colorado returns home for the first time in almost a month. They'll face Weber State on Friday, April 7, for their first Big Sky Conference home series.