@BearsSoftball Welcomes North Dakota

Friday, April 21

Greeley, CO

1:00 pm

University of Northern Colorado

University of North Dakota

4/20/2017 12:34:00 PM | Softball

By: Thomas Hoffman, uncbears.com

vs North Dakota (April 21) -- Live Stats | @bearssoftball
vs North Dakota (April 21) -- Live Stats | @bearssoftball
vs North Dakota (April 22) -- Live Stats | @bearssoftball

Greeley, Colo - Northern Colorado Softball hosts another Big Sky Conference series beginning on Friday, April 21. The Bears welcome in the Fighting Hawks of North Dakota for a pivotal three-game series entering the home stretch of conference play.

Scouting the Bears 16-30, 4-8 (Big Sky)
• Erica Dick leads the team in batting average (.368), runs (30), doubles (12), triples (3), RBI (29), slugging (.618) and on base percentage (.442).
• Jordyn Wiatrak leads the Big Sky and the team in home runs on the year with 10.
• Cheyenne Talmadge is the only player in the conference who is perfect in stolen bases with at least 10 attempts.
• UNC batters have forced 135 walks in 2017, compared to giving up just 87.
• In her last 10 games, Emily Holtz leads the team batting .357 with two runs and one RBI.

Scouting the Fighting Hawks 19-25, 5-6 (Big Sky)
• Rachael Waynick leads the Fighting Hawks going .324 from the dish.
• North Dakota is nearly perfect in stolen bases. So far, UND is 34-37 on the season.
• Kaylin VanDomelen leads the Big Sky in ERA, boasting a 1.86 average in 28 appearances and 135.1 innings pitched.
• No team in the BSC has struck out more than North Dakota with 270 on the season.
• Grounding into nine double plays, UND leads the conference in the category.

Who to Watch For
Kenzie Kudrna - Kudrna completed a career high seven put outs in left field Tuesday against Colorado State, including several heady plays in foul territory. On the season, Kenzie has 53 putouts, the most of any outfielder and fourth on the team behind Rachel Johnson, Addie Coldiron and Erica Dick.

Last Time Out
The Bears took on Colorado State for the fourth and final time in 2017. Three costly errors allowed the Rams to prevail over UNC, 3-1.
Last Time vs. North Dakota
Since 1999, Northern Colorado is 17-11 all-time against the Fighting Hawks. Last season in Grand Forks, UND took two of three off the Bears.
Keeping up with Kudrna
Tuesday against Colorado State, Kudrna recorded a career single-game high seven putouts in left field, one shy of the game-high which came from first baseman Rachel Johnson.
Taylor Made
Freshman Sophia Taylor is rounding in form at second base. Starting in 31 games so far in 2017, Taylor hasn't committed an error since March 31. In the meantime she has tallied 15 assists and 10 putouts.
How Are Your Vidals?
Since the beginning of Big Sky play, Valerie Vidal has allowed the least amount of hits among qualified pitchers. The sophomore has also allowed the fourth least amount of runs in BSC play.
Double Trouble
In conference play, Erica Dick and and Kaley Garcia rank first and fourth, respectively in total doubles. No other tandem in the Big Sky equals their total of 10.
Wiatrak Power
Jordyn Wiatrak launched her 10th home run of the season over the weekend. Wiatrak remains just one long-ball behind the conference leader, Delene Colburn. The sophomore is also just three shy of a program single-season record.
Another One Bites the Dust
Tuesday against Colorado State, Erica Dick broke another school record. Dick surpassed Melissa Marcovecchio with the most career hits with 202 and counting.
Miami Kleis
In the Bear's first home conference series against Weber State, Kelli Kleis came in to pinch hit for Adeline Coldiron in the bottom of the eighth inning with the game tied. Her double, just her second hit of the season and first in conference play, sealed the win for the Bears against the Wildcats.
BSC Highlight
Northern Colorado's Jayme Reddacliff is of only two Big Sky pitchers this season to throw a complete game one-hitter.
Complete Control
Northern Colorado has given up only 87 walks in 2017. No other Big Sky School has surrendered less than 90 on the season.
In Defense We Trust
Northern Colorado has tallied 862 put outs thus far in 2017, good enough for second in the Big Sky Conference. Their mark is also on pace to break the 2012 single-season record of 1,035.
Assisted Living
Shana Easley's pitching staff won't set any records in strikeouts this year, but neither her nor her players really care. Trusting their defense more than ever, UNC leads the Big Sky Conference with 472 assists. With more nine games, left in the season, the team is on track to break the 2014 single-season record of 512.
Don't Even Try It
Adeline Coldiron, who has started each of the ears' 46 games at catcher, has caught 14 runners attempting to steal bases, five more than any other catcher in the conference and only four away from the single-season record.
Wearing One for the Team
Northern Colorado is the fourth best team in the conference in on base percentage, mostly in part due to their high number of hit by pitch count. Already with 25 in 2017, the Bears lead the BSC and are on pace to break the 2015 record of 33.
New Year New Staff
Head coach Shana Easley has hired assistant coaches, Travis Owen and Kaelene Curry over the offseason. Owen arrives from a successful Radford program and Curry makes her second stint as part of UNC's staff, arriving from Sonoma State.
New Kids on the Block
UNC adds three new faces to the program in 2017. Hunter Damico, Autumn Anderson and Sophia Taylor all arrive in Greeley looking to make an impact in their freshmen campaigns.
Seeing Triple
Last season, Northern Colorado and Erica Dick led the nation in triples per game by a team and by a player, respectively with .43 and .40.
Early Signing Success
UNC ventured out into four different states to sign new recruits during the early signing period in November. Natalie Joyner (Wash.), Mady Young (Kan.), Ally Steiner (Ariz.) and Emma Brockman (Ore.) will all arrive on campus next season.
Frequent Flyers
The Bears will spend the first month of the season traveling the Southwestern part of the United States. Tournaments in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas keep UNC busy before coming home on March 7 against Colorado State.
Record Watch
2017 could be a monumental year for Erica Dick. The senior ranks top-10 in UNC history in 10 career categories. Dick has already scored more runs than anyone in Bear history with 123 and counting.
Recent Renovations
On top of renaming Butler-Hancock Softball Field to Gloria Rodriguez Field, UNC Softball will welcome a brand new scoreboard and backstop. Renovations to the facility continue with eyes on new dugouts as the next project.