University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Sunday, February 18
San Jose, Calif.
1 pm
University of Northern Colorado
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San Jose State University
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Northern Colorado
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San Jose State
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Photo by: Rob Trubia
Recap: Pauley's Ninth Inning Single Leads @NCBearsBaseball Over San Jose State
2/18/2018 6:29:00 PM | Baseball
Jack Pauley's ninth inning single earned UNC a 6-5 comeback win over San Jose State
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Northern Colorado baseball earned the series split with San Jose State on Sunday with some ninth inning heroics. The Bears scored two runs in the top of the ninth to comeback against the Spartans 6-5.
The Bears grabbed the early 2-0 lead when the bottom of the order came through again in the second inning. Matt Burkart walked to lead-off the inning, before switching spots with Tyler Yamaguchi on a fielder's choice. UNC struck with a two-out rally just like yesterday when Dean Lawson doubled to left center scoring Yamaguchi. Lawson proceeded to come home on a double steal with Austin Miller getting caught in the rundown long enough for him to touch home plate.
San Jose State tied UNC in the third when its first four batters reached on a walk, fielding error and pair of singles. The rally continued as the Spartans loaded the bases and scored the then go-ahead run to lead 3-2.
Northern Colorado didn't let the Spartans lead for long, reclaiming it in the top of fourth. Brett Minnick led off the inning with a single up the middle scoring on the next at-bat when Burkart doubled to center evening the game at 3. It was another two-out hit that put the Bears back ahead. Lawson singled up the middle to score Burkart from third after he advanced on a groundout.
The score stayed at 4-3 UNC, until the eighth inning. SJSU's leadoff hitter was hit by a pitch and stole second but looked to be possibly stranded there when UNC recorded a pair of outs. A throwing error by Tyler Yamaguchi extended the inning and allowed the tying run to score. The next at-bat brought home the go-ahead run with a single.
Despite the 5-4 deficit, Northern Colorado never lacked confidence heading into the ninth. Dean Lawson and Austin Miller reached to start the rally on a single and hit by pitch. Cole Maltese grounded out to third, but advanced Lawson and Miller into scoring position. Following a strikeout, Jack Pauley came through with the game-winning single scoring Lawson and Miller.
Connor Leedholm came in for the bottom of the ninth and struck out the final two Spartans to preserve the Bears win.
What They Said
Head Coach Carl Iwasaki
"It was a good opening weekend to see how we match up to a Mountain West Conference team. Our kids are experienced in playing in tight games and we had a chance to respond today trailing in the ninth inning. We now look forward to playing at home for the next three weekends and moving forward in the preseason schedule."
Game Changer
Jack Pauley has provided plenty of highlight plays for Northern Colorado during his career and added to it on Sunday afternoon. The redshirt-junior hit the game-winning single with two outs to bring home the game-tying and game-winning run. For the game, he finished 2-for-5 with two RBI. Over the weekend he hit .412 for the team.
Stat to Know
Two-out RBI were once again a key factor for UNC on Sunday afternoon. After scoring 10 two-out runs yesterday, four of the teams six runs came with two outs today, including the most important two in the ninth inning.
Game Notes
- While Jack Pauley provided the game-winning hit, Dean Lawson provided the most consistent offense for the Bears all game long. Lawson, finished the day a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.
- Freshman Baxtor Halligan made his first career start on Sunday going a strong five innings allowing three runs, only one earned, on eight hits.
- Matt Burkart joined teammates Pauley and Lawson with a multi-hit game. He went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and RBI.
What's Ahead
Northern Colorado comes home next weekend to host Montana State-Billings for a four-game home-opening series. Game one will take place on Friday, February 23 at 2 pm at Jackson Field. The Bears and Yellow Jackets will play a doubleheader on Saturday and then close out the series on Sunday. Admission to all UNC baseball games is free.
To stay up to date on all things UNC baseball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Twitter at @NCBearsBaseball.
The Bears grabbed the early 2-0 lead when the bottom of the order came through again in the second inning. Matt Burkart walked to lead-off the inning, before switching spots with Tyler Yamaguchi on a fielder's choice. UNC struck with a two-out rally just like yesterday when Dean Lawson doubled to left center scoring Yamaguchi. Lawson proceeded to come home on a double steal with Austin Miller getting caught in the rundown long enough for him to touch home plate.
San Jose State tied UNC in the third when its first four batters reached on a walk, fielding error and pair of singles. The rally continued as the Spartans loaded the bases and scored the then go-ahead run to lead 3-2.
Northern Colorado didn't let the Spartans lead for long, reclaiming it in the top of fourth. Brett Minnick led off the inning with a single up the middle scoring on the next at-bat when Burkart doubled to center evening the game at 3. It was another two-out hit that put the Bears back ahead. Lawson singled up the middle to score Burkart from third after he advanced on a groundout.
The score stayed at 4-3 UNC, until the eighth inning. SJSU's leadoff hitter was hit by a pitch and stole second but looked to be possibly stranded there when UNC recorded a pair of outs. A throwing error by Tyler Yamaguchi extended the inning and allowed the tying run to score. The next at-bat brought home the go-ahead run with a single.
Despite the 5-4 deficit, Northern Colorado never lacked confidence heading into the ninth. Dean Lawson and Austin Miller reached to start the rally on a single and hit by pitch. Cole Maltese grounded out to third, but advanced Lawson and Miller into scoring position. Following a strikeout, Jack Pauley came through with the game-winning single scoring Lawson and Miller.
Connor Leedholm came in for the bottom of the ninth and struck out the final two Spartans to preserve the Bears win.
What They Said
Head Coach Carl Iwasaki
"It was a good opening weekend to see how we match up to a Mountain West Conference team. Our kids are experienced in playing in tight games and we had a chance to respond today trailing in the ninth inning. We now look forward to playing at home for the next three weekends and moving forward in the preseason schedule."
Game Changer
Jack Pauley has provided plenty of highlight plays for Northern Colorado during his career and added to it on Sunday afternoon. The redshirt-junior hit the game-winning single with two outs to bring home the game-tying and game-winning run. For the game, he finished 2-for-5 with two RBI. Over the weekend he hit .412 for the team.
Stat to Know
Two-out RBI were once again a key factor for UNC on Sunday afternoon. After scoring 10 two-out runs yesterday, four of the teams six runs came with two outs today, including the most important two in the ninth inning.
Game Notes
- While Jack Pauley provided the game-winning hit, Dean Lawson provided the most consistent offense for the Bears all game long. Lawson, finished the day a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.
- Freshman Baxtor Halligan made his first career start on Sunday going a strong five innings allowing three runs, only one earned, on eight hits.
- Matt Burkart joined teammates Pauley and Lawson with a multi-hit game. He went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and RBI.
What's Ahead
Northern Colorado comes home next weekend to host Montana State-Billings for a four-game home-opening series. Game one will take place on Friday, February 23 at 2 pm at Jackson Field. The Bears and Yellow Jackets will play a doubleheader on Saturday and then close out the series on Sunday. Admission to all UNC baseball games is free.
To stay up to date on all things UNC baseball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Twitter at @NCBearsBaseball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Maher, Caden (1-0)
L: CLAWSON, Wesley (0-1)
S: Leedholm, Connor (1)
Batting:
2B: Burkart, Matt 1 ; Lawson, Dean 1
RBI: Pauley, Jack 2 ; Burkart, Matt 1 ; Lawson, Dean 2
SH: Maltese, Cole 1 ; Lawson, Dean 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, Austin 1 ; Minnick, Brett 1 ; Burkart, Matt 1 ; Yamaguchi, Tyler 1 ; Lawson, Dean 2
SB: Pauley, Jack 1
CS: Miller, Austin 1
HBP: Miller, Austin 2 ; Minnick, Brett 1
Batting:
RBI: MORRISON, Kyle 1 ; TIMMONS, Shane 2 ; CAMPBELL, David 1
SF: CAMPBELL, David 1
Base Running:
RUNS: PLESCHNER, Aaron 2 ; MORRISON, Kyle 1 ; PITTMAN, Sawyer 1 ; KONISHI, Connor 1
SB: MORRISON, Kyle 1 ; TIMMONS, Shane 1 ; PITTMAN, Sawyer 1
HBP: TIMMONS, Shane 1 ; WILLIAMS, Chris 1 ; PITTMAN, Sawyer 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
2
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
UT
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
INF/RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
INF
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