Recap: @bearssoftball Pulls Off Two Upsets to Advance in Big Sky Tournament

Thursday, May 10

Ogden, UT

12 PM

University of Northern Colorado

27-25

North Dakota

25-27

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Northern Colorado	0	3	1	0	0	3	0	7	8	0
North Dakota	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	4	8	0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Northern Colorado	0	2	2	0	2	0	0	6	7	1
Weber State	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	6	2

Photo by: Robert Casey

5/10/2018 10:14:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Northern Colorado knocked off No. 3 seed North Dakota and No. 2 Weber State on Thursday

By: Matthew Kushar, UNCBears.com

OGDEN, UT- It was another historic day for Northern Colorado softball, as they picked up its first Big Sky Tournament wins since joining the conference in 2013. UNC (28-25, 8-9) defeated third seed North Dakota 7-4 and rode the momentum to a 6-3 win over second seed and host Weber State.

Game 1-North Dakota
UNC sent its ace to mound in the first round of the Big Sky Tournament as Valerie Vidal was in the circle against North Dakota's Kaylin Van Domelen. After a scorless first inning, Mady Young led off the top of the second with a single. After Young had been moved to third base with a sacrifice bunt and a ground out, Natalie Joyner knocked a two-out single to give UNC the 1-0 lead. Kenzie Kudrna would then draw a walk and Madi Schmidt would deliver another two-out hit with a triple to clear the bases. The Bears had a 3-0 lead after two innings.

In the top of the third, UNC added to its lead after Kaley Garcia walked to lead off the inning and she would then steal second base. Young would step up to the hit a single through the right side that scored Garcia. UNC now lead 4-0 after three innings.

North Dakota would come back in force in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four runs on five hits to knock Vidal out of the game. Kelli Kleis entered the game with the score tied at four and ended the inning with no additional damage.

The Bears responded promptly in the top of the sixth, starting with Joyner tripling to right field for her second hit of the game. Joyner would score on a wild pitch from Van Domelen and UNC was back in front 5-4. Kudrna drew a walk and advanced to third on the wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly from Schmidt. UNC was not done in the inning as Sophia Taylor tripled to right field. Garcia would bring her home with an RBI single to left field and UNC was now on top 7-4.

In the bottom of the seventh, Kleis closed out the game to give UNC the 7-4 upset win over North Dakota. Kleis held steady in relief, pitching 2.1 innings, only allowing one hit, and one walk to earn her third win of the season.

Game 2-Weber State
Valerie Vidal started in the circle for UNC for the second time on Thursday and faced Weber State's Kaitlyn Bohling. The Wildcats got to
Vidal in the bottom of the first with a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to left field, giving them a 2-0 lead. Weber State was helped by a UNC error that allowed the runner to reach base.

The Bears responded immediately in the top of the second after Emma Brockmann walked and Natalie Joyner singled with one out. Sophia Taylor would come to the plate and slap a single into left field that scored both Brockmann and Joyner to tie the game at two.

In the top of the third, Mady Young reached base on a Weber State error. Rachel Johnson would come to bat and blast a two-run, homer to left field and UNC jumped ahead of Weber State 4-2.

Weber State pulled within one of the Bears in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run from Rae Gall and the score was now 4-2.

Just like after the first inning, UNC responded immediately in the top of the fifth inning. Kaley Garcia would launch a solo home run over the left field wall the Bears were back up by two. UNC kept the pressure on in the fifth after Young walked, stole second, and then scored on a throwing error by Weber State. The Bears had opened a 6-3 lead over the wildcats.

Vidal cruised through the final three innings of the game, allowing only three hits. In the bottom of the seventh, Vidal closed out Weber State and secured the 6-3 win for UNC.

UNC swept the day, with two upsets of higher ranked teams to secure at least two more games in Ogden.

In their words

Shana Easley, Head Coach

On both wins
"We really just wanted our mentality going into the game to be more relaxed and not anxious. We also wanted controlled aggression at the plate and playing our game, brining as much positivity to every at-bat and pitch of the game. When were are on the same page and being cohesive, we play our best. We did that consistent both games and showed great resilience in both games."

On responding to Weber's scores
"We were confident in all of our hitters and we hit the ball well, up-and-down the lineup. We had people come through with clutch hits for us that we have sometime struggled to get in the past. Overall, we played sound, fundamental softball by not giving away free bases or outs. We made them earn everything and we're a tough team to beat when we do that."

On Sacramento State
"I think it's just to keep our mentally the same and when we play our game well. We've proven we can beat Sacramento State earlier this season. We're confident going into the game and the results will take care of themselves."

Madi Schmidt, Outfielder

On the approach at the plate
"This year and this team we go after it hard. That's the different from this weekend and last. Myself and everyone included have gone hard and gave 100%"

On the two upsets today
"Oh man, it's an all-time high honestly. I have never been this excited and I'm on cloud nine."

On Sacramento State
"Our hitting has been well today and it will come in handy tomorrow. I know Celina is really great pitcher so kudos to her. I think our series against them last time will be helpful as well."

Kaley Garcia, Outfielder

On the team's resilience
"I think we came into the game today and we're expecting to win and compete. We have been resilient all season and that's the biggest thing that has kept us together. We play as a team and good things happen."

On her home run
"It was a 3-1 count so it was a hitter count and I was looking for anything. It came in right where I wanted it and I got my bat on it."

On the upsets today
"It's exciting and its awesome. I so thankful to have to be surrounded by this group of girls. There is no other group that I would want to go out there with and it's an awesome team chemistry we have."

Notes

UNC was efficient on Thursday, scoring 13 runs on 15 hits, while batting .273 as a team. The Bears were also patient at the plate, recording 11 walks to six strikeouts.
Three Bears batted .429 on the day, with Kaley Garcia, Natalie Joyner, and Mady Young going three-for-seven.
Garcia hit her second home run of the year, tallying two RBIs, scoring two runs and stealing two bases.
Joyner scored three runs, hit her first career triple, and added one RBI.
Young also scored three runs, stole two bases, and added one run.
Valerie Vidal won her 18^th game of the season, while recording a 3.60 ERA in 11.2 innings, with nine strikeouts and three walks.

Up Next
Northern Colorado will look to advance to the Big Sky Championship game with a victory over the number one seeded Sacramento State Hornets at 2:30 P.M. (MT).