University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, April 22
Las Cruces, N.M.
2:00 pm
University of Northern Colorado
15-21, 4-7
4
at
7
New Mexico State
25-15, 10-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Northern Colorado
0
1
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
4
11
0
New Mexico State
0
0
1
0
1
3
2
0
X
7
14
0
Photo by: Rob Trubia
@NCBearsBaseball Falls to New Mexico State in Back and Forth Battle
4/22/2017 6:11:00 PM | Baseball
UNC baseball fell to New Mexico State 7-4 on Saturday.
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Northern Colorado (15-21, 4-7 WAC) and New Mexico State (25-15, 10-1 WAC) battled back and forth Saturday afternoon, with the Aggies coming out on top 7-4 in the end. The game featured four ties and one lead change throughout it.
How It Happened
Just like the first game of the series, Northern Colorado scored the first run of the game in the second inning. It was once again Brett Minnick to score the run, this time coming in on an Alex Kiel single to left field. The Bears had the opportunity to add onto its lead in the inning when they loaded the bases with two outs, but ended up having Evan Johnson pop out to end the inning.
New Mexico State evened the game at one in the third on a Brent Sakurai infield single.
UNC regained the lead in the fourth though, as Nick Tanner hit a solo home run to left field to lead off the inning, his second homer of the season. The game was once again evened in the fifth by New Mexico State.
For the third time in the game, Northern Colorado reclaimed the lead, once again on a solo home run, this one from Dean Lawson. This home run was also hit to left field by the Bears second baseman.
Instead of waiting an inning, New Mexico State respond to the Bears right away. They began the bottom half of the frame with back-to-back doubles to even the game and end UNC starter Connor Leedholm's day. The Aggies continued to attack the Northern Colorado pitching, loading the bases with one out. NMSU ended up pushing across two more runs to make it a 5-3 game.
The Bears cut the lead to one in the seventh though, as they too loaded up the bases. The rally started when Matt Burkart singled to start the inning. Cole Maltese and Jack Pauley then reached on a walk and hit by pitch to load them up. Brett Minnick, came back from an 0-2 hole and worked an eight-pitch walk, scoring Burkart. Unfortunately for UNC they were unable to push any more runs across as they popped out to short and struck out on a called check swing to end the inning.
New Mexico State had a pair of insurance runs added on to its lead when Dan Hetzel sent a big two-run homer to left for a 7-4 advantage.
Northern Colorado had its shot in the eighth to cut its deficit to less than three when Cole Maltese came up with a pair on and two outs. Maltese ended up hitting a slow roller towards third and a hard charging Joey Ortiz made a nice play to end the Bears threat. The team had another chance in the ninth with a pair of two-out singles, but a strike out looking ended the game.
Game Changer
New Mexico State had just earned its first lead of the day, but Northern Colorado threatened to regain the lead in the top of the seventh. The Bears loaded the bases with just one out. Brett Minnick walked to bring one run in, but the Aggies ended up getting out of the inning with a pop out to short and then a very close call on a check swing strike three against Alex Kiel full count.
Notable
- UNC had its share of opportunities again on Saturday, stranding 13 runners.
- Alex Kiel, Nick Tanner and Matt Burkart led UNC with two hits apiece on the day.
- Despite receiving the loss, Connor Leadholm pitched well for the Bears once again going 5+ innings allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out four.
- Northern Colorado extended a lot of innings, going 7-for-17 in two out opportunities.
Quotable
Head Coach Carl Iwasaki
"It was a competitive game today. Connor Leedholm gave us a chance to win with a quality start for us. We hit with them all day long finishing with the 11 hits. We need to convert those hits into runs tomorrow and salvage the Sunday game.
What's Next?
The Bears and Aggies close out the three-game series tomorrow at noon. Aaron Hamilton will take the mound for UNC.
How It Happened
Just like the first game of the series, Northern Colorado scored the first run of the game in the second inning. It was once again Brett Minnick to score the run, this time coming in on an Alex Kiel single to left field. The Bears had the opportunity to add onto its lead in the inning when they loaded the bases with two outs, but ended up having Evan Johnson pop out to end the inning.
New Mexico State evened the game at one in the third on a Brent Sakurai infield single.
UNC regained the lead in the fourth though, as Nick Tanner hit a solo home run to left field to lead off the inning, his second homer of the season. The game was once again evened in the fifth by New Mexico State.
For the third time in the game, Northern Colorado reclaimed the lead, once again on a solo home run, this one from Dean Lawson. This home run was also hit to left field by the Bears second baseman.
Instead of waiting an inning, New Mexico State respond to the Bears right away. They began the bottom half of the frame with back-to-back doubles to even the game and end UNC starter Connor Leedholm's day. The Aggies continued to attack the Northern Colorado pitching, loading the bases with one out. NMSU ended up pushing across two more runs to make it a 5-3 game.
The Bears cut the lead to one in the seventh though, as they too loaded up the bases. The rally started when Matt Burkart singled to start the inning. Cole Maltese and Jack Pauley then reached on a walk and hit by pitch to load them up. Brett Minnick, came back from an 0-2 hole and worked an eight-pitch walk, scoring Burkart. Unfortunately for UNC they were unable to push any more runs across as they popped out to short and struck out on a called check swing to end the inning.
New Mexico State had a pair of insurance runs added on to its lead when Dan Hetzel sent a big two-run homer to left for a 7-4 advantage.
Northern Colorado had its shot in the eighth to cut its deficit to less than three when Cole Maltese came up with a pair on and two outs. Maltese ended up hitting a slow roller towards third and a hard charging Joey Ortiz made a nice play to end the Bears threat. The team had another chance in the ninth with a pair of two-out singles, but a strike out looking ended the game.
Game Changer
New Mexico State had just earned its first lead of the day, but Northern Colorado threatened to regain the lead in the top of the seventh. The Bears loaded the bases with just one out. Brett Minnick walked to bring one run in, but the Aggies ended up getting out of the inning with a pop out to short and then a very close call on a check swing strike three against Alex Kiel full count.
Notable
- UNC had its share of opportunities again on Saturday, stranding 13 runners.
- Alex Kiel, Nick Tanner and Matt Burkart led UNC with two hits apiece on the day.
- Despite receiving the loss, Connor Leadholm pitched well for the Bears once again going 5+ innings allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out four.
- Northern Colorado extended a lot of innings, going 7-for-17 in two out opportunities.
Quotable
Head Coach Carl Iwasaki
"It was a competitive game today. Connor Leedholm gave us a chance to win with a quality start for us. We hit with them all day long finishing with the 11 hits. We need to convert those hits into runs tomorrow and salvage the Sunday game.
What's Next?
The Bears and Aggies close out the three-game series tomorrow at noon. Aaron Hamilton will take the mound for UNC.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: J. Groff (6-4)
L: Mulvaney, Justin (4-3)
S: R. Rodriguez (7)
Batting:
2B: Maltese, Cole 1
HR: Tanner, Nick 1 ; Lawson, Dean 1
RBI: Tanner, Nick 1 ; Kiel, Alex 1 ; Lawson, Dean 1
SH: Tanner, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Burkart, Matt 1 ; Minnick, Brett 1 ; Tanner, Nick 1 ; Lawson, Dean 1
SB: Johnson, Evan 1 ; Minnick, Brett 1
HBP: Pauley, Jack 1
Batting:
2B: A. Botello 1 ; D. Hetzel 1 ; M. Fishback 1
HR: D. Hetzel 1
RBI: B. Sakurai 2 ; D. Hetzel 3 ; M. Fishback 1 ; M. Still 1
Base Running:
RUNS: A. Botello 2 ; D. Hetzel 2 ; L. Hatch 1 ; M. Fishback 1 ; M. Still 1
SB: M. Still 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
UT
/ Baseball
INF/RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballOF/LHP
/ 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
