Recap: @bearssoftball Sweep the Second Day of the Rock Chalk Challenge

Friday, March 16

Lawrence, KS

9 am

University of Northern Colorado

15-14

Murray State

8-14

Northern Colo.

Murray State

3/16/2018 4:53:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Northern Colorado defeated Murray State and Western Illinois with strong play from in all aspects of the game

By: Matthew Kushar, UNCBears.com

LAWRENCE, Kansas- Northern Colorado softball swept the second day of the Rock Chalk Challenge, with a 5-2 win over Murray State and a 5-1 win over Western Illinois. UNC (16-14) put together back-to-back games with solid pitching, hitting, and defense to showcase the ability of the team.

Northern Colorado-Murray State
Valerie Vidal got the nod for the second starlight day to start in the circle in game one and went against the Racers' Olivia Suski. Neither team was able to create many run scoring opportunities in the first two innings, as both pitchers were working their spots to start.

Murray State started the scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning after Lillie Goetz tripled and Jensen Streigel brought her home with a single to left center. Another single would give the Racers a 2-0 lead over the Bears.

It did not take long for UNC to respond, as the bats for the Bears came alive in the top of the fourth inning. After Kaley Garcia singled to lead-off the inning, Lauren Paige would crush a ball to right center and tie Murray State at two. UNC was not done for the inning, as UNC managed three straight walks to load the bases. Sophia Taylor came to the plate looking to do some damage and she came through with a single up the middle that scored Rachel Johnson and Jordyn Wiatrak for a 4-2 UNC lead.

The Bears would extend their lead in the top of the fifth after Paige walked to start the inning and Wiatrak singled to put two on with nobody out. A Racers throwing error would allow pinch-runner Kelli Kleis, who came in for Paige, to score and UNC and built a 5-2 advantage over Murray State.

Paige would reenter the game as a pitcher and would continue to be successful in relief for the Bears, going four innings of shut-out ball. Murray State would connect for two hits in the bottom of the seventh to add drama to the inning, but Paige was able to avoid any damage with a groundout to secure the 5-2 win for UNC.

Northern Colorado-Western Illinois
Game two of the day for UNC started immediately after the first and the Bears had Chandler Elsner in the circle. The Fighting Leathernecks would have Megan Lotarski oppose Elsner in the circle. Similar to the first game for the Bears, both pitchers were sharp to begin with, and the score was tied after the first three innings.

UNC's bats would explode in the bottom of the fourth inning to break the game wide open. Lotarski had two quick outs from the Bears, but Johnson and Taylor would both draw walks. Cheyenne Talmadge would double down the left field lien to score Johnson and UNC had the lead. Madi Schmidt would walk to load the bases for Mady Young and she delivered with a single through the left side to score Taylor and Talmadge. Kaley Garcia did not want to be left out of the hit parade from the Bears and doubled to left center to score Young and Schmidt. The Bears put up five runs in the inning and they led by that much. It was enough to force a pitching change from the Leathernecks and Lotarski exited the game.

Comparatively, Elsner was able to continue to pitch well and keep the Western Illinois hitters off balance for most the game.

In the top of the sixth, the Leathernecks put two on to start the inning and Elsner was in trouble. Western Illinois would scratch out a run on a fielder's choice and UNC's lead was cut to 5-1 after six innings.

Elsner handled her business in the top of the seventh, allowing a single, but shutting the door on Western Illinois for the 5-1 UNC victory.

Elsner was impressive from the circle, going seven innings, with one earned run, five hits, three strikeouts, and two walks. UNC used a combination of good hitting and excellent pitching to win both games on Friday morning and improve its record in the Rock Chalk Challenge to 2-1.

In their words

Shana Easley, Head Coach
"Great to get two wins on the day with much better defensive outings in both games. We were able to answer back in game one with LP coming up with a big home run and Mady Young also pushing crucial runs across for us. Chandler threw really well in game two and I liked seeing us being able to score multiple runs with two outs. Tomorrow we are looking forward to another shot at KU and building on Today."

Notes

UNC's pitching staff allowed three runs in 14 innings pitched today and struck out 12 batters, allowing only four walks.
The Bears were also sharp on defense, committing only one error in the Murray State game and none in the Western Illinois game.
Lauren Paige hit her fourth home run of the season against Murray State, and went 2-for-5 on the day, with one run scored and three walks.
Kaley Garcia had a strong day at the plate, going 3-for-6, with two RBIs and one run scored.

Up Next
Northern Colorado will have a rematch with Kansas tomorrow afternoon at 1 P.M. (MT) and then follow it up with a game against the University of Missouri-Kansas City at 6 P.M.