University of Northern Colorado Athletics
University of Northern Colorado
24-29
Sacramento State
31-27
Sacramento State Bests @NCBearsBaseball in Winner's Bracket Game
5/27/2017 12:13:00 AM | Baseball
Northern Colorado baseball fell 10-1 Friday night in the WAC Tournament to Sacramento State
MESA, Ariz. - Northern Colorado baseball faced Sacramento State Friday night in a winner's bracket game at the WAC Tournament, falling to the Hornets 10-1. The loss was just the team's first in the double elimination tournament.
How It Happened
Northern Colorado starter Karver Pate came out firing for the Bears sitting down the first nine batters he faced in the game. Sacramento State's Ian Dawkins recorded the first hit of the game on Pate with a single up the middle to begin the fourth. It was followed up by a Trent Goodrich single through the right side to put runners on the corners with no outs. Pate recorded his fourth strike out of the game, but was unable to get out of the inning, as James Outman sent a three-run home run to the bullpens in right. The long ball put the Hornets up 3-0 and ended Pate's day.
Sacramento State added onto its lead in the fifth by loading the bases for Vinny Esposito who came through with a two RBIs single to push it to a 5-0 game.
The Bears looked to get some of those runs back in the bottom of the fifth as Brett Minnick walked and Evan Johnson had a big chopper for a single to left put runners on the corners with no outs. UNC was unable to take advantage of the situation though, as the next three batters were retired in order, including a pair of strikeouts.
The Hornets loaded up the bases again in the sixth, scoring a pair in the situation, extending the lead to 7-0.
Northern Colorado was able to scratch a run across the board finally in the bottom half of the sixth though. Nick Tanner began the inning with a walk, and Jack Pauley doubled to left, putting the pair in scoring position. Tanner came home to score as he left on contact on a Cole Maltese grounded out to second.
Sacramento State added on two more runs in the eighth and another in the ninth, while UNC was unable to score anymore, as the game finished by the score of 10-1.
Game Changer
It was a back and forth pitchers duel through the first three innings of play, but then Sacramento State strung a couple of hits together putting a pair on. James Outman, one of the three big bats for Sac St delivered the big hit a three-run home run to break the scoreless game and give the Hornets all the moment they needed.
Notable
- Nick Tanner continues to be a hit machine for UNC extending his hit streak to 15 games with a 2-for-3 game. He scored the Bears lone run of the game.
- Brett Minnick moved his way closer to the program's single season doubles record with one on Friday night. It was his 25th of the year, two shy of the record 27 set by Patrick Perry.
- Sacramento State starter Andrew Roberts kept the Bears bats quiet all night long as he went six innings allowing one run on four hits walking two and striking out five.
Quotable
Head Coach Carl Iwasaki
"We should be able to overcome that three run home run from the fourth inning, but our offense never got going tonight. That is just a part of baseball though. We are in tournament play with our backs against the wall now so we have to respond. When we have runners in scoring position we have to drive them home. All we are focused on is game one tomorrow against Bakersfield and will go from there."
What's Next?
After suffering their first lost of the tournament, the Bears will battle with CSU Bakersfield in an elimination game tomorrow at 4 pm MT. The winner of that game will take on Sacramento State in the WAC championship game at 8 pm MT Saturday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Roberts, Austin (4-1)
L: Pate, Karver (0-4)
S: Fox, Ty (2)
Batting:
2B: Goodrich, Trent 1 ; Reynolds, Kody 1 ; Floyd, PJ 2
HR: Outman, James 1
RBI: Goodrich, Trent 2 ; Esposito, Vinny 2 ; Outman, James 3 ; Floyd, PJ 1 ; Martinez, Ricky 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dawkins, Ian 2 ; Goodrich, Trent 1 ; Outman, James 1 ; Hunley, Brandon 1 ; McWilliam, Andrew 1 ; Floyd, PJ 1 ; Ortiz, Raul 1 ; Martinez, Ricky 2
HBP: Esposito, Vinny 1 ; Reynolds, Kody 1 ; McWilliam, Andrew 1 ; Ortiz, Raul 1
Batting:
2B: Pauley, Jack 1 ; Minnick, Brett 1
RBI: Maltese, Cole 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tanner, Nick 1
CS: Tanner, Nick 1
PO: Tanner, Nick 1
