University of Northern Colorado Athletics
University of Northern Colorado
5-3
North Dakota State University
4-5
Recap: @NCBearsBaseball Bats Erupt for 17 Runs Against NDSU
3/2/2018 7:54:00 PM | Baseball
UNC defeated North Dakota State Friday afternoon 17-4.
NDSU stranded a pair in the top of the first before UNC started the scoring in the bottom half of the inning. All five of Northern Colorado's runs in the first came with two outs. The scoring started on a delayed double steal as Jack Pauley took off for second and Austin Miller advanced to home on what ended up to be a throwing error from the NDSU catcher to score. The error on the throw allowed Pauley to advance to third.
The Bears rally continued through the entire lineup including an Alex Kiel triple down the right field line to score a pair.
North Dakota State cut the lead to 5-1 with a run in the third, but would not pull any closer than that the rest of the way. Northern Colorado responded to the Bison run by scoring seven in the bottom half of the inning.
The seven-run inning started with UNC's first eight batters reaching safely, to score six of the runs. The only out recorded during that time came on a fielder's choice. Of the team's six hits during the eight-batter stretch, three were for extra bases, as Pauley and Kiel doubled while Evan Johnson hit a two-RBI triple. Overall, the inning consisted of seven runs on seven hits and on NDSU error.
With the game, well in hand, starter Issac Bracken pitched well over five innings of work allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out five.
UNC added three more on in the fourth, and one more in each the fifth and sixth. The Bison plated four more runs in the game as well, one in the fifth and two in seventh.
Game Changer
Evan Johnson had a big day at the plate going 2-for-2 with 3 RBI and a walk. Johnson also had a pair of sacrifice flies in the game, both helping lead to the run-scoring later on. He had one of the team's two triples in the game.
Stat to Know
Six Bears had a multi-hit game on Friday, led by Austin Miller's 3-for-3 day at the plate. The team matched its runs total with 17 hits as well.
Game Notes
- Freshman Matt Zoba hit his first career home run in the ball game with a no-doubter to left center.
- Alex Kiel was 2-for-2 at the plate with a pair of extra-base hits. He had a double in the first and tripled in the third. In his other two plate appearances, he walked.
- UNC was running wild on the base paths with five stolen bases in the game. Austin Miller led the team with two.
What's Ahead?
Northern Colorado and North Dakota State will continue its series tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader at Jackson Field. First pitch between the Bears and Bison is set for 12 pm.
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: Bracken, Issac (1-0)
L: Riley Johnson (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Mason Pierzchalski 1 ; Nick Emanuel 1 ; Matt Elsenpeter 1
RBI: Mason Pierzchalski 2 ; Logan Busch 1 ; Nick Emanuel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ryan Cornell 1 ; Mason Pierzchalski 1 ; Matt Elsenpeter 2
Batting:
2B: Minnick, Brett 1 ; Burkart, Matt 1 ; Kiel, Alex 1
3B: Johnson, Evan 1 ; Kiel, Alex 1
HR: Zoba, Matt 1
RBI: Maltese, Cole 4 ; Johnson, Evan 3 ; Minnick, Brett 1 ; Burkart, Matt 2 ; Kiel, Alex 3 ; Zoba, Matt 1 ; Yamaguchi, Tyler 2
SF: Johnson, Evan 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, Austin 3 ; Maltese, Cole 1 ; Johnson, Evan 2 ; Pauley, Jack 1 ; Minnick, Brett 1 ; Burkart, Matt 2 ; Kiel, Alex 2 ; Zoba, Matt 1 ; Yamaguchi, Tyler 3 ; Lawson, Dean 1
SB: Miller, Austin 2 ; Pauley, Jack 1 ; Yamaguchi, Tyler 1
HBP: Miller, Austin 1 ; Zoba, Matt 1
