University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, March 31
Greeley, CO
1 pm
University of Northern Colorado
22-17, 0
14
vs
10
Southern Utah
5-25, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Southern Utah
2
0
1
2
3
0
2
10
11
2
Northern Colorado
1
2
6
0
0
5
X
14
11
0
Photo by: Dean Popejoy
Recap: @bearssoftball Survive Slugfest against Southern Utah
3/31/2018 7:17:00 PM | Softball
Northern Colorado earned its second consecutive conference series win with a 14-10 victory on Saturday
GREELEY, Colo.- There was no shortage of offense at Gloria Rodriguez Field on Saturday afternoon, as UNC defeated Southern Utah 14-10. UNC (22-16) won a slugfest against the Thunderbirds to earn its second straight Big Sky series win and improved to 4-2 in conference play.
Valerie Vidal was in the circle for the Bears after earning the win in game one of the doubleheader yesterday. The winning pitcher from game two, Kalei Watkins, opposed Vidal for Southern Utah. Taylel Williams put the Thunderbirds on the board in the top of the first inning with a two-run, homer off Vidal to take the lead.
UNC would get one run back in the bottom of the first, after Madi Schmidt scored from first base on a Southern Utah error and the lead was cut to 2-1.
In the bottom of the second inning, with one runner on, Emma Brockmann stepped up to the plate and hit her second home run of the year to give UNC the 3-2 advantage.
Balls were flying out of Gloria Rodriguez Field, as Southern Utah's Sarah Murphy would hit the team's second homer of the say with a solo shot in the top of the third inning to tie the game at three.
The Bears separated themselves from the Thunderbirds in the bottom of the third with a big inning from the lineup. Kaley Garcia got the rally going with an RBI double to score Sophia Taylor. Mady Young would keep the inning going with a double to center field to score Garcia and Schmidt.
Brockmann would pick up her third RBI of the day with a groundout to second based that scored Lauren Paige. Racheal Johnson showed her power with a two-run blast to left field that capped off the steller inning for the lineup. UNC had built a 9-3 lead over Southern Utah after three innings.
Despite the big lead, the Thunderbirds began to chip away at it in the top of the fourth with a solo homer from Watkins and a sacrifice fly. In the top of the fifth, Watkins hit her second home run of the day and Southern Utah added another run on an RBI triple. Vidal was pulled from the game and replaced by Chandler Elsner to try and hold the lead. Southern Utah had pulled within one run of the Bears at 9-8 after five innings.
UNC was looking to pad their lead and get some breathing room in the bottom of the sixth inning and the Bears were in business as Schmidt lead the inning off with a triple. Schmidt was thrown out at home after Garcia hit into a fielder's choice. After a Jordyn Wiatrak walk, Paige would deliver the back-breaking, three-run homer to left field. The Bears would score two more times during the inning, by way of a Brockmann RBI double and a Johnson RBI single. UNC plated five runs to lead 14-8 going to what was hopefully the final half inning.
Williams would hit her second home run to lead off the top of the seventh. Southern Utah would load the bases and scored another run on a fielder's choice. Elsner was able to clamp down and retire the Thunderbirds to preserve the win for UNC. The Bears had held off Southern Utah for the 14-10 win and secured the series win.
Northern Colorado had 11 hits and also drew eight walks on the day to generate 14 runs against the Thunderbirds. Southern Utah also committed two errors to benefit the UNC lineup. Valerie Vidal earned her 15th win of the season, pitching 4 2/3 innings, and allowing eight runs.
In their words
Shana Easley, Head Coach
On the game
"It was a battle the whole game that turned into a slugfest. Thankfully we came out aggressive with the bats that we had to have that going the whole game. In the end there, we were fighting for outs and really every out was crucial in the last couple of innings. Mady Young came up with a big play for us there. It's really anybody's game in conference and even every inning and it was battle that we luckily came out on top."
On the series win
"This is a great start for us and anyone we can get is valuable when it comes to the end of our conference season. Starting out 4-2 is a great for us, but we have to build on it and go out and battle every day to keep getting conference wins."
On surpassing last season's win total
"We have a really cohesive group this year and good leadership from the senior class. We're firing on all cylinders and I think a lot of it is them picking each other up. We're all on board and that just has paid off for us, but we have a few weeks of season left and I'm excited to see where it can take us."
Senior Lauren Paige
On the lineups success
"Honestly it's our confidence in ourselves and I think we've done some great things this year. No matter what comes at us in a game or in a series we know we can overcome it and come out on top."
On her success at the plate
"I think it's my preparation each week to know what I'll see for each game and for the series. It about being calm and patient, while still being aggressive."
Notes
Next Up
Northern Colorado will play one game at Gloria Rodriguez against Colorado State on Tuesday, April 3rd at 4 P.M.
Â
Valerie Vidal was in the circle for the Bears after earning the win in game one of the doubleheader yesterday. The winning pitcher from game two, Kalei Watkins, opposed Vidal for Southern Utah. Taylel Williams put the Thunderbirds on the board in the top of the first inning with a two-run, homer off Vidal to take the lead.
UNC would get one run back in the bottom of the first, after Madi Schmidt scored from first base on a Southern Utah error and the lead was cut to 2-1.
In the bottom of the second inning, with one runner on, Emma Brockmann stepped up to the plate and hit her second home run of the year to give UNC the 3-2 advantage.
Balls were flying out of Gloria Rodriguez Field, as Southern Utah's Sarah Murphy would hit the team's second homer of the say with a solo shot in the top of the third inning to tie the game at three.
The Bears separated themselves from the Thunderbirds in the bottom of the third with a big inning from the lineup. Kaley Garcia got the rally going with an RBI double to score Sophia Taylor. Mady Young would keep the inning going with a double to center field to score Garcia and Schmidt.
Brockmann would pick up her third RBI of the day with a groundout to second based that scored Lauren Paige. Racheal Johnson showed her power with a two-run blast to left field that capped off the steller inning for the lineup. UNC had built a 9-3 lead over Southern Utah after three innings.
Despite the big lead, the Thunderbirds began to chip away at it in the top of the fourth with a solo homer from Watkins and a sacrifice fly. In the top of the fifth, Watkins hit her second home run of the day and Southern Utah added another run on an RBI triple. Vidal was pulled from the game and replaced by Chandler Elsner to try and hold the lead. Southern Utah had pulled within one run of the Bears at 9-8 after five innings.
UNC was looking to pad their lead and get some breathing room in the bottom of the sixth inning and the Bears were in business as Schmidt lead the inning off with a triple. Schmidt was thrown out at home after Garcia hit into a fielder's choice. After a Jordyn Wiatrak walk, Paige would deliver the back-breaking, three-run homer to left field. The Bears would score two more times during the inning, by way of a Brockmann RBI double and a Johnson RBI single. UNC plated five runs to lead 14-8 going to what was hopefully the final half inning.
Williams would hit her second home run to lead off the top of the seventh. Southern Utah would load the bases and scored another run on a fielder's choice. Elsner was able to clamp down and retire the Thunderbirds to preserve the win for UNC. The Bears had held off Southern Utah for the 14-10 win and secured the series win.
Northern Colorado had 11 hits and also drew eight walks on the day to generate 14 runs against the Thunderbirds. Southern Utah also committed two errors to benefit the UNC lineup. Valerie Vidal earned her 15th win of the season, pitching 4 2/3 innings, and allowing eight runs.
In their words
Shana Easley, Head Coach
On the game
"It was a battle the whole game that turned into a slugfest. Thankfully we came out aggressive with the bats that we had to have that going the whole game. In the end there, we were fighting for outs and really every out was crucial in the last couple of innings. Mady Young came up with a big play for us there. It's really anybody's game in conference and even every inning and it was battle that we luckily came out on top."
On the series win
"This is a great start for us and anyone we can get is valuable when it comes to the end of our conference season. Starting out 4-2 is a great for us, but we have to build on it and go out and battle every day to keep getting conference wins."
On surpassing last season's win total
"We have a really cohesive group this year and good leadership from the senior class. We're firing on all cylinders and I think a lot of it is them picking each other up. We're all on board and that just has paid off for us, but we have a few weeks of season left and I'm excited to see where it can take us."
Senior Lauren Paige
On the lineups success
"Honestly it's our confidence in ourselves and I think we've done some great things this year. No matter what comes at us in a game or in a series we know we can overcome it and come out on top."
On her success at the plate
"I think it's my preparation each week to know what I'll see for each game and for the series. It about being calm and patient, while still being aggressive."
Notes
- Northern Colorado had a season-best three home runs Saturday from Lauren Paige (7), Rachel Johnson (3), and Emma Brockmann (2). The pitching also allowed a season-high five homers against Southern Utah.
- Madi Schmidt lead the Bears with a .667 batting average, including a triple, and three runs scored, and one RBI.
- The Bears swiped seven bases in eight attempts in the three game series. Kaley Garcia led the way with the three stolen bases on three attempts. Cheyenne Talmadge had two stolen bases on two attempts.
- UNC's hitters showed its discipline at the plate, with 21 walks to only seven strikeouts. Schmidt walked five times with no strikeouts, while Paige walked four times with no strikeouts.
- Northern Colorado won consecutive Big Sky series for the first time since 2014.
- Head Coach Shana Easley will finish the 2018 season with the most wins since she took over the program in 2013.
Next Up
Northern Colorado will play one game at Gloria Rodriguez against Colorado State on Tuesday, April 3rd at 4 P.M.
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Vidal, Valerie (15-5)
L: WATKINS, Kalei (2-5)
Batting:
2B: MURPHY, Sarah 1 ; WILLIAMS, Taylei 1 ; WILLAMS, Kaitlin 1
3B: KAPITZKE, Kendall 1
HR: MURPHY, Sarah 1 ; WILLIAMS, Taylei 2 ; WATKINS, Kalei 2
RBI: MURPHY, Sarah 1 ; WILLIAMS, Taylei 3 ; KAPITZKE, Kendall 1 ; WATKINS, Kalei 3 ; WEAVER, Javlyn 1 ; WILLIAMS, Hannah 1
SH: SIMONSON, Nicole 1
SF: WEAVER, Javlyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MURPHY, Sarah 2 ; WILLIAMS, Taylei 3 ; KAPITZKE, Kendall 1 ; WATKINS, Kalei 2 ; TUFT, Madison 1 ; WILLAMS, Kaitlin 1
CS: WILLIAMS, Hannah 1
Batting:
2B: Garcia, Kaley 1 ; Young, Mady 1 ; Brockmann, Emma 1
3B: Schmidt, Madi 1
HR: Paige, Lauren 1 ; Brockmann, Emma 1 ; Johnson, Rachel 1
RBI: Garcia, Kaley 1 ; Paige, Lauren 3 ; Young, Mady 2 ; Brockmann, Emma 4 ; Johnson, Rachel 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Taylor, Sophia 1 ; Schmidt, Madi 2 ; Garcia, Kaley 2 ; Wiatrak, Jordyn 1 ; Paige, Lauren 2 ; Talmadge, Cheyenne 1 ; Young, Mady 2 ; Brockmann, Emma 2 ; Johnson, Rachel 1
SB: Garcia, Kaley 1
CS: Schmidt, Madi 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballINF/P
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballUniversity of Northern Colorado's 15th Annual Women's Walk
Tuesday, December 23
UNC Softball Highlights vs Portland State Game 1
Tuesday, December 23
UNC Softball Highlights vs Portland State Game 2
Tuesday, December 23
UNC Bears Softball 2023 Big Sky Tournament Champions
Tuesday, December 23
