University of Northern Colorado Athletics
University of Northern Colorado
10-5
South Dakota State University
2-14
Recap: @NCBearsBaseball Competes Sweep of South Dakota State
3/11/2018 6:34:00 PM | Baseball
UNC baseball competed the sweep of South Dakota State Sunday with an 11-7 win
How it Happened
UNC wasted no time scoring on Sunday as Austin Miller led-off the game with a double to left center. He came home to score on an error by the Jackrabbits defense. Holding a 1-0 lead going to the bottom of the second to put the game away.
The Bears put a seven spot up in the second on six hits, two walks and an error. Brett Minnick started the big inning with a double to left, as the team batted around in the inning. Following a strikeout, the next four UNC batters reached base safely, scoring three runs to make it 5-0. Northern took advantage of South Dakota State miscues including a wild pitch ball four, balk and Dean Lawson stealing home. By the time the dust settled from Northern Colorado rounding the base path, they led 8-0.
South Dakota State finally put a run on the board in the top of the fourth with a solo home run to left field, but UNC responded with two runs in the bottom half. Matt Burkart extended the inning by reaching on a fielding error to start the two-out rally. Tyler Yamaguchi and Payton Tapia then hit back-to-back doubles to score the pair of runs extending the lead to 10-1.
The Jackrabbits never gave in on getaway day, battling to score six runs over the final five innings of play, but the Bears had built its lead enough early on to complete the sweep, 11-7.
Game Changer
Austin Miller did a good job setting the table for UNC all game long going 3-for-5 in the leadoff spot, including reaching to start the team's day at the plate. He scored twice and hit a pair of doubles to go along with an RBI to help his team win.
Stat to Know
Defensive miscues played a decent part in Northern Colorado's win on Sunday, as South Dakota State committed four errors leading to five unearned runs.
Game Notes
- Northern Colorado is now on a five-game win streak and closed out its 11-game homestand with an 8-3 record.
- Three Bears finished had a multi-hit game with Austin Miller leading the way with three. Brett Minnick and Payton Tapia each had two apiece.
- Starter Baxter Halligan had another good outing on Sunday, going 5.0 innings allowing four runs, all earned, on five hits with seven strikeouts and three walks.
What's Ahead?
The Bears are back on the road for the first time since its season-opening series as they head to Nebraska for a two-game midweek series. Game one is set for Tuesday, March 13. Both games start at 12:35 pm MT.
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: Halligan, Baxter (2-0)
L: Otis Roby (0-2)
Batting:
HR: Tony Kjolsing 1 ; Josh Falk 1
RBI: Tony Kjolsing 2 ; Josh Kutzke 2 ; Josh Falk 1 ; Logan Holtz 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Gus Steiger 1 ; Tony Kjolsing 3 ; Josh Kutzke 1 ; Josh Falk 1 ; Kolton Michalski 1
SB: Tony Kjolsing 1
Batting:
2B: Miller, Austin 2 ; Pauley, Jack 1 ; Minnick, Brett 2 ; Yamaguchi, Tyler 1 ; Tapia, Payton 1 ; Lawson, Dean 1
3B: Burkart, Matt 1
RBI: Miller, Austin 1 ; Johnson, Evan 1 ; Pauley, Jack 1 ; Minnick, Brett 1 ; Yamaguchi, Tyler 1 ; Tapia, Payton 2 ; Lawson, Dean 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, Austin 2 ; Johnson, Evan 1 ; Pauley, Jack 1 ; Minnick, Brett 1 ; Burkart, Matt 1 ; Yamaguchi, Tyler 2 ; Tapia, Payton 1 ; Lawson, Dean 2
SB: Minnick, Brett 1 ; Yamaguchi, Tyler 1 ; Lawson, Dean 2
