Recap: @bearssoftball Sweeps Montana on Friday in Dramatic Fashion

Friday, April 27

Greeley, CO

1 PM

University of Northern Colorado

24-22, 0

Montana

22-25, 0

Montana

Northern Colorado

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

4/27/2018 9:08:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Northern Colorado won two extra inning games with walk of hits to jump above .500 in conference

By: Matthew Kushar, UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo.- Northern Colorado softball swept the doubleheader against Montana on Friday with a pair of extra, inning, walk-off wins. UNC (25-22, 7-6) won the first game 1-0 in eight innings and the second game 8-7 in nine innings.

Game 1

In the first competitive action in two weeks, UNC had its ace Valerie Vidal in the circle against the Grizzlies Colleen Driscoll. Both pitchers were dominating Friday afternoon, with only seven hits allowed between them.

Montana had the first scoring opportunity of the game in the top of the second with two runners on and two outs. Vidal was able to get a lineout in the next at bat to end the threat.

UNC did not get its first baserunner until the bottom of the third when Emma Brockmann singled to right field and Kenzie Kudrna doubled to put runners on second and third with one out. Driscoll focused in and retired the next to UNC batters to keep the game scoreless.

Vidal and Driscoll matched each other inning-for-inning, preventing either team from stringing hits together. The game would need extra innings as the two pitchers were in control of the opposing lineups.

In the bottom of the eighth, Rachel Johnson stepped up to the plate, in one of her final games in Greeley, and delivered a walk-off, solo home run to give UNC the 1-0 win.

Vidal earned the win after pitching eight scoreless innings, allowing four hits, striking out five, and walking one. Driscoll suffered the loss, going seven and third innings, allowing one run on three hits. She also struck out seven, while walking no one.

Game 2

Chandler Elsner was in circle for UNC in the second game of the doubleheader, in what may be her last appearance at Gloria Rodriguez Field. She faced Montana's Maddy Stensby. Both teams found their bats in the first inning after the pitching duel in game one. Montana raced out to a 2-0 lead after getting a pair of hits and UNC committing one error.

UNC responded in the bottom of the first after Kaley Garcia was hit by a pitch. Lauren Paige would then single to left field and Jordyn Wiatrak would bring Garcia into score with an RBI single to left field. UNC now trailed Montana 2-1.

The Bears jumped in front of the Grizzlies in the bottom of the third with three runs on three hits. Madi Schmidt lead the inning off with a double and then scored after Garcia grounded into a fielder's choice. Natalie Joyner would double to left field to bring Paige into score, after she walked to get on base. Mady Young kept the inning going with a double to left field that scored Joyner. UNC had built a 4-2 lead over Montana.

Montana rallied in the top of the fifth with three runs on four hits to take a 5-4 lead over the Bears. Elsner was then relieved by Kelli Kleis in the circle.

Garcia and Paige both reached base in the bottom of the fifth inning with a single and walk respecitvley. Despite being on with one out, UNC could not bring them into score.

The Bears were able to tie the score at five in the bottom of the sixth, as Schmidt hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Rachel Johnson.

The teams would need extra innings again on Friday after neither team managed to score in the seventh inning.

With not scoring in the eighth inning, the game moved to the ninth inning. Montana pushed across two runs in the top of the ninth on two hits and looked to put the Bears away, leading 7-5.

UNC kept its composure in the bottom of the ninth and Schmidt would lead the inning off with a double to left field. Sophia Taylor would come through with another double, this time to left field that plated Schmdit and UNC was within one at 7-6. Garcia would get her third hit of the game with a double to left center that tied the game at seven. After coming up with a big hit in the third inning, Joyner delivered with her first career walk-off hit, singling to right field that scored Garcia. UNC earned the 8-7 victory and the series win over the preseason pick to win the Big Sky.

Kleis picked up the win after pitching a strong four and a third innings, allowing two unearned runs on four hits.

In their words

Shana Easley, Head Coach

Overall thoughts on the day
"It was awesome to see that. We stress being present in the moment and we had to compete hard every inning. We give ourselves the best chance when we play hard in the moment and that what we needed to do to win today. Rachel came through for us in the first game and Nat came through in the second. We had a lot of people on base, especially in the second game and that gave us momentum."

On the pitcher's performance
"Val looked great in game one, throwing the way we know she can and it was good to see her throw that way. I thought Chandler and Kelli pitched well, avoiding hard contact and keeping us in the game."

On the 9^th inning rally
"I think its staying the moment and believing in our team. We talked about having great energy all the time and having the dugout supporting the batters. I think they felt that and believed in themselves to come up and keep hitting well."

Rachel Johnson, Senior First Basemen
"It felt really good. My last two at bats she had been beating me on the inside pitch and I knew it was coming. I got a little earlier on my swing and I got a hold of it so it felt good to finally beat her on that pitch. We were there for each other as a team. We made some mistakes that hurt us, but when it got down to the end, we trusted each other and got the wins."

Notes

Valerie Vidal earned her 16^th win of the season, along with her 18^th complete game and seventh shutout. All are single season, UNC records.
Kaley Garcia is now tied for second in single-season doubles in UNC history with 16.
Along with her first career walk-off hit, Natalie Joyner recorded her first career RBI, finishing with two for the day.
UNC's 25 wins are tied for the second most in program history. The 2002 Bears won 28 games and the 2012 Bears won 25.

Up Next
Northern Colorado will look for the sweep of Montana on Saturday that will move UNC a step closer to securing a spot in the Big Sky Championships. Saturday will also be Senior Day for Chandler Elsner, Kaley Garcia, Rachel Johnson, Kelli Kleis, and Lauren Paige. First pitch at Gloria Rodriguez Field will be at 1 P.M. (MT).