University of Northern Colorado Athletics
University of Northern Colorado
20-17
Air Force Academy
16-21
Recap: Falcons Use Wind to Advantage, Defeat @NCBearsBaseball
4/17/2018 8:37:00 PM | Baseball
Northern Colorado baseball fell to Air Force 17-9 Tuesday afternoon
How It Happened
With winds consistently at 25 miles per hour or higher blowing out to right field throughout the game, Air Force used it to its advantage early on. The Falcons scored three runs in the first on back-to-back home runs by Nic Ready and Rob Dau, both to right field.
The lead did not last long, as UNC stormed back in the bottom of the first. Austin Miller, Matt Zoba and Matt Burkart loaded the bases, all singling to start the Bears day at the plate. Northern Colorado continued to reach base and tied the game at three as Jack Pauly walked and Payton Tapia hit a two-RBI single to center. Air Force did not produce an out against UNC until Jake Oblas grounded into a fielder's choice that scored Pauley to give the team the lead. By the time the dust settled, Northern Colorado scored five runs in the inning, the last coming on a greatly executed squeeze by Jake Garcia.
UNC's 5-3 lead was short-lived, Air Force hit its third home run of the game in the top of the second to gain the advantage for good at 6-3. It was Drew Wiss' three-run home run with two-outs that put the team ahead.
Following Air Force extending the lead to 7-5, Northern Colorado pulled within one with an RBI single from Pauley in the bottom of the fourth. The Bears seemed to be within striking distance until the Falcons scored two in the fifth and sixth to expand the lead to five. A six-run seventh to put the game out of reach for UNC.
Despite the large deficit the Bears never gave in battling to score two in the seventh and one in the ninth.
Game Changer
Air Force catcher Rob Dau had a big day at the plate ending up a double shy of the cycle. He was 4-for-6 with two singles, a triple and a solo home run. Dau, scored three times and drove in three runs.
Stat to Know
Northern Colorado put plenty of runners on base Tuesday afternoon but struggled to take advantage of those opportunities. UNC went 10-for-30 with runners on base but stranded 14 batters.
Game Notes
- Five Bears recorded multiple hits in the game, led by Matt Zoba's three.
- Jack Pauley brought home a third of the team's runs. He went 2-for-4 with a run scored, three RBI and a walk.
- UNC's pitchers struck out 11 Falcons, led by three each from Zach Heath and Jacob Bogacz.
What's Ahead?
Northern Colorado continues its five-game homestand on Friday when New Mexico State comes to town. The Bears and Aggies will play in a three-game series over the weekend, beginning on Friday at 3 pm. All UNC baseball games are free to attend.
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: KINCART, Joe (2-0)
L: Gorrell, Gavin (0-2)
Batting:
2B: READY, Nic 1 ; ZABOJNIK, Tyler 1
3B: ROBB, Ryan 1 ; DAU, Rob 1
HR: WISS, Drew 1 ; READY, Nic 1 ; DAU, Rob 1
RBI: ROBB, Ryan 3 ; WISS, Drew 4 ; READY, Nic 3 ; DAU, Rob 3 ; ZABOJNIK, Tyler 1 ; JONES, Daniel 1 ; BOOKER, Jacob 2
SF: WISS, Drew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ROBB, Ryan 3 ; WISS, Drew 1 ; READY, Nic 2 ; DAU, Rob 3 ; ZABOJNIK, Tyler 2 ; EASLEY, Ashton 1 ; JONES, Daniel 2 ; BOOKER, Jacob 2 ; GAMBALE, Christian 1
SB: ROBB, Ryan 1 ; WISS, Drew 1
CS: BOOKER, Jacob 1
HBP: JONES, Daniel 1
Batting:
2B: Zoba, Matt 1 ; Pauley, Jack 1
RBI: Miller, Austin 1 ; Zoba, Matt 1 ; Pauley, Jack 3 ; Tapia, Payton 2 ; Oblas, Jake 1 ; Garcia, Jake 1
SH: Garcia, Jake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, Austin 1 ; Maltese, Cole 2 ; Zoba, Matt 2 ; Burkart, Matt 1 ; Pauley, Jack 1 ; Tapia, Payton 1 ; Oblas, Jake 1
HBP: Miller, Austin 1 ; Pauley, Jack 1 ; Yamaguchi, Tyler 1 ; Oblas, Jake 1
