University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Sunday, February 25
Greeley, Colo.
12 pm
University of Northern Colorado
3-2
6
vs
1
Montana State University Billings
4-4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
MSU Billings
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
4
1
Northern Colorado
1
4
0
0
0
1
X
6
7
1
Photo by: AE Photography
Recap: @NCBearsBaseball Splits Home Opener
2/25/2018 6:52:00 PM | Baseball
Northern Colorado baseball split its home opening games against Montana State Billings
GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado baseball split its home season-opening doubleheader against Montana State Billings (5-4) Sunday afternoon at Jackson Field. The Bears (3-3) won the first game 6-1 before dropping game two to the Yellowjackets 9-5.
Game One
Northern Colorado wasted no time scoring in the home-opening game by putting a run up in the first. Austin Miller walked to lead off the first and then advanced to second on a passed ball. Evan Johnson brought him home with a hard hit single up the middle to make it a 1-0 ballgame.
Following a 1-2-3 top of the second from Keenan Lum, the Bears added to its lead with a four-run rally. Tyler Yamaguchi led the inning off with a single and UNC proceeded to load the bases. Dean Lawson singled to center and Miller was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Johnson recorded another big play for UNC, this time drilling a ball towards the shortstop that ended up an error scoring two runs. Jack Pauley followed it up with a bases-clearing triple off the wall in left center.
MSUB's only run of the game came in the third on a solo home run from Kade Hall.
The Bears added on one last run in the sixth, when Dean Lawson scored on Cole Maltese's bloop single to right. Keenan Lum commanded the zone all day for UNC, striking out seven and allowing four hits over five innings.
Game Two
Montana State Billings was the beneficiary of early runs scored and mistakes from the Bears in game two of the doubleheader. Starter Aaron Hamilton walked the first two Yellowjackets he faced in the game and a pair of fielding mistakes led to a three-run first inning for MSUB.
They added to their lead in the third and fifth by taking advantage of leadoff walks. In both innings, those walks came around to score and led to another run to expand the lead to 7-1. Northern Colorado's lone run in the time came in the fourth when Brett Minnick hit a solo home run to left center.
The Bears scratched across another run in the seventh after their bats were silent through most of the game. Billy Moreland drew a pinch-hit walk that scored on the next at-bat when Dean Lawson doubled to right field. Montana State Billings grew its lead to 9-2 in the ninth with a pair of runs in the top of the inning.
Despite trailing by seven in the ninth, UNC never gave in, scoring three runs in the ninth. Payton Tapia walked in a pinch-hit situation to lead off the inning, but the team was down to its last out before any runs scored. Alex Kiel doubled to center field to score Tapia and scored himself on a Lawson double. Miller brought home Lawson before the Yellowjackets were able to record the last out.
Game Changer
Keenan Lum had command of the zone and game throughout during the first game of the doubleheader. He earned his second win of the season with a strong 5.0 innings pitched allowing one run on four hits while striking out seven.
Stat to Know
After jumping out early in the first game, Northern Colorado's offense struggled in game two. MSUB's pitchers struck out 17 Bears in earning the game two win.
Game Notes
- Dean Lawson had a solid day at the plate, going 3-for-6 at the plate with three runs scored, two RBI and two walks.
- Montana State Billing's Steen Fredrickson shut down the Bears' bats with five strong innings allowing just one hit and one run while striking out 10.
- Jack Pauley had a multi-hit day, recording his second double of the year and first triple.
What's Ahead?
Northern Colorado and Montana State Billings will play the rubber match of the three-game series on Monday at Jackson Field. First pitch between UNC and MSUB is set for noon.
To stay up to date on all things UNC baseball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Twitter at @NCBearsBaseball.
Game One
Northern Colorado wasted no time scoring in the home-opening game by putting a run up in the first. Austin Miller walked to lead off the first and then advanced to second on a passed ball. Evan Johnson brought him home with a hard hit single up the middle to make it a 1-0 ballgame.
Following a 1-2-3 top of the second from Keenan Lum, the Bears added to its lead with a four-run rally. Tyler Yamaguchi led the inning off with a single and UNC proceeded to load the bases. Dean Lawson singled to center and Miller was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Johnson recorded another big play for UNC, this time drilling a ball towards the shortstop that ended up an error scoring two runs. Jack Pauley followed it up with a bases-clearing triple off the wall in left center.
MSUB's only run of the game came in the third on a solo home run from Kade Hall.
The Bears added on one last run in the sixth, when Dean Lawson scored on Cole Maltese's bloop single to right. Keenan Lum commanded the zone all day for UNC, striking out seven and allowing four hits over five innings.
Game Two
Montana State Billings was the beneficiary of early runs scored and mistakes from the Bears in game two of the doubleheader. Starter Aaron Hamilton walked the first two Yellowjackets he faced in the game and a pair of fielding mistakes led to a three-run first inning for MSUB.
They added to their lead in the third and fifth by taking advantage of leadoff walks. In both innings, those walks came around to score and led to another run to expand the lead to 7-1. Northern Colorado's lone run in the time came in the fourth when Brett Minnick hit a solo home run to left center.
The Bears scratched across another run in the seventh after their bats were silent through most of the game. Billy Moreland drew a pinch-hit walk that scored on the next at-bat when Dean Lawson doubled to right field. Montana State Billings grew its lead to 9-2 in the ninth with a pair of runs in the top of the inning.
Despite trailing by seven in the ninth, UNC never gave in, scoring three runs in the ninth. Payton Tapia walked in a pinch-hit situation to lead off the inning, but the team was down to its last out before any runs scored. Alex Kiel doubled to center field to score Tapia and scored himself on a Lawson double. Miller brought home Lawson before the Yellowjackets were able to record the last out.
Game Changer
Keenan Lum had command of the zone and game throughout during the first game of the doubleheader. He earned his second win of the season with a strong 5.0 innings pitched allowing one run on four hits while striking out seven.
Stat to Know
After jumping out early in the first game, Northern Colorado's offense struggled in game two. MSUB's pitchers struck out 17 Bears in earning the game two win.
Game Notes
- Dean Lawson had a solid day at the plate, going 3-for-6 at the plate with three runs scored, two RBI and two walks.
- Montana State Billing's Steen Fredrickson shut down the Bears' bats with five strong innings allowing just one hit and one run while striking out 10.
- Jack Pauley had a multi-hit day, recording his second double of the year and first triple.
What's Ahead?
Northern Colorado and Montana State Billings will play the rubber match of the three-game series on Monday at Jackson Field. First pitch between UNC and MSUB is set for noon.
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: Lum, Keenan (2-0)
L: Sam Wong (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Kade Hall 1
HR: Kade Hall 1
RBI: Kade Hall 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kade Hall 1
SB: Hayden Humphrey 1
PO: Chase Teter 1
Batting:
2B: Pauley, Jack 1
3B: Pauley, Jack 1
RBI: Maltese, Cole 1 ; Johnson, Evan 1 ; Pauley, Jack 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, Austin 2 ; Johnson, Evan 1 ; Yamaguchi, Tyler 1 ; Lawson, Dean 2
CS: Miller, Austin 1
HBP: Miller, Austin 2
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballUT
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF/RHP
/ Baseball
INF/RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballINF
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