@BearsSoftball Enters Final Weekend of Big Sky Play

Friday, May 5

Greeley, CO

1:00 pm

University of Northern Colorado

Idaho State University

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

5/3/2017 9:42:00 AM | Softball

By: Thomas Hoffman, uncbears.com

vs Idaho State (May 5, 1PM) -- Live Stats | @bearssoftball
vs Idaho State (May 5, 3PM) -- Live Stats | @bearssoftball
vs Idaho State (May 6, 2PM) -- Live Stats | @bearssoftball

Greeley, Colo - Northern Colorado Softball embarks on the final weekend of Big Sky Conference regular season play. Needing at least two victories to have a shot at the postseason, UNC welcomes Idaho State on Friday to Gloria Rodriguez Field.

Scouting the Bears 19-33, 7-11 (Big Sky)
• Erica Dick leads the team in batting average (.363), runs scored (32) and on base percentage (.446).
• Jayme Reddacliff leads the UNC pitching staff with a 2.84 ERA and 11 wins in 35 starts.
• Northern Colorado pitching has allowed just 97 walks. Only Weber State has allowed less in the Big Sky.
• Since the beginning of conference play, the Bears have allowed just 16 doubles. North Dakota is the only team to allow less with 15.
• In terms of strikeouts, UNC batters rank number one, two, three, six and eight in the Big Sky.

Scouting the Bengals 13-24, 6-11 (Big Sky)
• Five Idaho State batters average north of the .300 mark.
• Kacie Burnett leads the team with .448 average at the dish to go along with 11 doubles, 18 RBI and 22 stolen bases.
• Ashlyn Ames and Harley wells, both with at least 20 appearance, have sub 4.00 ERA's.
• The Bengals have only hit 21 home runs, while giving up 23.
• ISU is second in the Big Sky in both batting average (.290) and slugging precentage (.413).
• Idaho State is second in the BSC in stolen bases with 71.

Who to Watch for
Kelli Klies - Already with 14 appearances in the circle, Kleis has now become Shana Easley's go-to pinch hitter in game deciding situations. A walk-off double against Weber State highlights a 15-game stretch where Kleis is batting well north of .400 at the plate with six RBI and just three strikeouts.

Last Time Out
Sacramento State took each of the three games the two school played over the weekend. Despite solid performances from UNC pitchers, Jayme Reddacliff and Valerie Vidal, UNC couldn't manufacture enough runs to take care of business.

Last time vs. Idaho state
The Bears and the Bengals have met 30 times since 2009. Idaho State currently holds the all-time record with a mark of 16-14, including each of the two games played a season ago. Northern Colorado's last win came in 2015 via a 9-8 thriller in Greeley.

Clinching Scenarios
As each Big Sky institution enters the final weekend of conference play, no team has been eliminated from conference tournament contention or solidified a specific spot. One-half game ahead of Idaho State, a sweep from UNC would gaurantee them a postseason bid. Should the Bears win two, they would need at least one loss from Portland State. Two losses and a North Dakota win would eliminate UNC from the tournament.

Senior Day Celebration
Northern Colorado says goodbye to four incredible seniors on Saturday. Emily Holtz, Adeline Coldiron, Jayme Reddacliff and Erica Dick all leave with everlasting careers here at UNC. The four have amassed over 60 wins for the Bears, including the programs first trip to the Big Sky Tournament.

Journey Women
2017 marks the longest season in the history of Northern Colorado Softball. Erica Dick, Jordyn Wiatrak, Rachel Johnson and Adeline Coldiron will all set single-season records for most games played with 55.

Jayme's Big (Sky) Weekend
After pitching 17 innings without giving up an earned run, Jayme Reddacliff not only walked away with two wins on the weekend against North Dakota, but the senior was also voted the Big Sky Pitcher of the Week. It was the second such honor for Reddacliff in her career.

Walk This Way
Erica Dick was walked for the 78th time in her career on Saturday, marking another broken record for the senior. Dick passes Melissa Marcovecchio to take the record.

Pick-off Party
Adeline Coldiron remains the only catcher in the conference to record a pick-off in 2017. Coldiron has notched three such feats throughout the season.

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 12.

Another One Bites the Dust
Tuesday, April 18, against Colorado State, Erica Dick broke another school record. Dick surpassed Melissa Marcovecchio with the most career hits with 202 and counting.

Wiatrak Power
Jordyn Wiatrak launched her 10th home run of the season against Montana. 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.

Miami Kleis
In the Bears' 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 97 walks in 2017. Only Weber state has given up less than 100.

In Defense We Trust
Northern Colorado has tallied 976 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 500 assists. Now with 528, UNC has set a single-season record for most assists.

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 30 in 2017, the Bears lead the BSC and are on pace to break the 2015 record of 33.

Don't Even Try It
Adeline Coldiron, who has started each of the Bears' 52 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.

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 spent 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.