@NCBearsBaseball Just Misses Weekend Sweep

Sunday, May 14

Edinburg, Texas

11:00 am

University of Northern Colorado

18-28, 7-14

UT Rio Grande Valley

26-25, 7-14

Northern Colorado

UT Rio Grande Valley

5/14/2017 4:03:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

UNC baseball just missed out on a weekend sweep as UTRGV walked-off on the Bears 6-5.

By: Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

EDINBURG, Texas – Northern Colorado and UT Rio Grande Valley closed out a three-game series Sunday afternoon, with the Vaqueros avoiding the sweep on a walk-off sacrifice fly to defeat the Bears 6-5.

How it Happened
UTRGV looked to score early on, but starter Nick Tanner and the Bears were able to get out of the bases loaded jam in the first to keep it a scoreless game. It remained that way until the bottom of the fourth.

Rio Grande Valley's Austin Siener singled to start off the inning and end Tanner's day on the mound. That leadoff single ended up coming around to score the first run of the game. The Vaqueros had an opportunity to add to its lead in the inning, but stranded a pair on second and third.

The lead didn't last long for UT Rio Grande Valley though, as Northern Colorado responded in the fifth inning. Brett Minnick and Evan Johnson led off the inning with back-to-back singles. The Bears proceeded to load the bases when Dean Lawson had a well-placed bunt that made everyone safe on the play. Tyler Yamaguchi came through for the team with the first UNC run of the day on a fielder's choice, scoring Minnick while cutting down Lawson at second.

With a pair of outs, the top of the UNC lineup kept the rally going. Nick Tanner and Alex Kiel each singled scoring two more for the Bears to put them up 3-1. The bases ended up loaded again when Jack Pauley worked a six pitch walk. Clean up hitter Cole Maltese delivered the next big blow of the inning with a two-RBI single up the middle increasing the lead to 5-1.

The score stayed that way until the sixth, when UTRGV scored three runs to get within one of Northern Colorado. The three run rally included three hits, a walk and hit by pitch.

A pair of walks to begin the seventh inning led to another run being scored by the Vaqueros. Noah Lee, scored the game-tying run on a Tyler Torres ground out.

The game looked to possibly be headed towards extras for the third time in the series as the teams went to the bottom of the ninth gridlocked at five. Siener and Victor Garcia Jr. reached via a walk and single to begin the inning. An error by pitcher Anthony Brady on a sacrifice bunt allowed the bases to be loaded with no outs for UTRGV. Cris Castillo wasted no time for the Vaqueros in ending the game with a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Garcia Jr. in the walk-off victory.

Game Changer
The Rio Grande Valley bullpen was key in picking up the walk-off victory Sunday afternoon. After starter Carter Johnson gave up five runs in 4.2 innings, the UTRGV bullpen shut down the UNC offense. Five different pitchers combined to close out the final 4.1 innings of work allowing just three Bears to reach base.

Notable
- Senior lefty Nick Tanner made his 2017 debut on the mound Sunday, going 3.0 plus innings allowing one run on four hits while walking three and striking out one. He also had a good day at the plate as the leadoff man. His final line read 3-for-4 with a double, one run scored and an RBI.
- Alex Kiel had a solid day at bat for Northern Colorado as well, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored.
- All three games this weekend were decided by one run. UNC ended up going 2-1 in the games and is now 8-6 in those games this season.

What's Next?
Northern Colorado heads into the final week of play with four games on the schedule. The team first hits the road heading down to take on Air Force Tuesday at 1 pm. They will then come home and host Chicago State to close out the 2017 regular season. UNC's three-game series against CSU begins on Thursday afternoon at 3 pm.