University of Northern Colorado Athletics
University of Northern Colorado
15-9, 1-1
Utah Valley University
8-12, 1-1
Recap: @NCBearsBaseball Drops Doubleheader, First WAC Series to Utah Valley
3/24/2018 11:24:00 PM | Baseball
Northern Colorado fell to Utah Valley twice to drop its first WAC series of the year
Game 1
Northern Colorado jumped out to the early 1-0 lead in the first, but UVU took the lead in the bottom of the inning at 2-1. UNC used a two-out rally, started by Dean Lawson's solo home run to even the game at two. A double by Jack Pauley and Matt Burkart gave the Bears three more runs to lead 5-2. The Wolverines roared back with 10 runs on nine hits and a UNC error to build a commanding 12-5 lead.
UNC never gave in though, chipping away with three runs in the fourth while Utah Valley added on a run in both the fourth and seventh inning. It was once again Lawson who started the Bears' three-run fourth. He hit an infield single and scored on an Austin Miller hard hit ball up the middle. The inning was capped off with a two-run home run from Cole Maltese to make it a 12-8 game.
The Bears stormed back to tie the game up with a big eighth inning. The team loaded the bases twice and scored six runs on four hits and one UVU error to tie the game at 14. Matt Zoba's infield single tied the game as he scored Tyler Yamaguchi when the bases were loaded,
Utah Valley went without scratching across a run in the eighth but loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth. Reliever Austin Bergdahl struck out the first two Wolverines before Skyler Davis was hit by a pitch to end the game.
Game 2
Both teams were scoreless through the first one and a half innings, before Utah Valley's offense exploded in the bottom of the second. The Wolverines scored nine runs on nine hits. That big inning was all UVU needed to go on to a 15-5 win.
Down 9-0, Northern Colorado tried to chip its way away at the Wolverines' lead scoring runs in the third through fifth inning. Brett Minnick hit a solo home run in the fourth to account for one of those five runs scored.
Utah Valley ended the game with a three-run eighth after scoring at least one run the second through the fifth inning.
Game Changer
Designated hitter Ryan Eastburn a tough out all day long, going 5-for-8 at the plate and walked three times. All five of his hits were singles, Eastburn scored four times and drove in three RBI.
Stat to Know
A key to Utah Valley's big day at the plate against the Bears was the ability for the leadoff hitter to get on base. UVU had its leadoff hitter reach 12 of the 17 times Saturday.
Game Notes
- Dean Lawson and Jack Pauley recorded a combined nine hits, six runs scored and four RBI over the two games. Lawson hit his first home run of the year in game one and drew two walks. Meanwhile, Pauley had three doubles.
- Three Bears hit a home run Saturday in Lawson, Brett Minnick and Cole Maltese.
- UNC's offense did not lack firepower on Saturday hitting .351 as a team and slugging .571.
What's Ahead?
Northern Colorado returns home for four games next week starting on Tuesday against Regis at 2 pm. The Bears then host, WAC preseason favorite Grand Canyon for a three-game series starting on Thursday, March 29 at 3 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: Carr,Jake (2-1)
L: Brady, Anthony (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Burkart, Matt 2 ; Pauley, Jack 1
HR: Maltese, Cole 1 ; Lawson, Dean 1
RBI: Miller, Austin 1 ; Zoba, Matt 1 ; Maltese, Cole 2 ; Burkart, Matt 1 ; Pauley, Jack 3 ; Johnson, Evan 2 ; Yamaguchi, Tyler 1 ; Minnick, Brett 1 ; Lawson, Dean 1
SF: Johnson, Evan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, Austin 2 ; Zoba, Matt 2 ; Maltese, Cole 3 ; Burkart, Matt 2 ; Pauley, Jack 1 ; Yamaguchi, Tyler 1 ; Lawson, Dean 3
SB: Pauley, Jack 1 ; Lawson, Dean 1
HBP: Miller, Austin 1 ; Pauley, Jack 1
Batting:
2B: Modler,David 1 ; Peterson,Trevor 2 ; Davis,Skyler 1
RBI: Howell,Trevor 1 ; Modler,David 2 ; Peterson,Trevor 1 ; Overlund,Jackson 2 ; Eastburn,Ryan 3 ; Poulsen,Kade 1 ; Davis,Skyler 3 ; Beltran,Michael 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Howell,Trevor 3 ; Modler,David 2 ; Peterson,Trevor 2 ; Overlund,Jackson 2 ; Eastburn,Ryan 1 ; Poulsen,Kade 1 ; Davis,Skyler 2 ; Beltran,Michael 2
CS: Davis,Skyler 1
HBP: Howell,Trevor 1 ; Overlund,Jackson 1 ; Davis,Skyler 2
