University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Sunday, February 24
Santa Clara, Calif.
10 am
University of Northern Colorado
2-11
9
vs
5
Utah State
6-9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Utah State
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
5
10
0
Northern Colorado
4
0
0
4
0
1
X
9
7
1
Photo by: Dean Popejoy
Vidal Sets Record, @BearsSoftball Sweeps the Day
2/24/2019 6:50:00 PM | Softball
Northern Colorado defeated Utah State and Santa Clara on Sunday
SANTA CLARA, Calif.- Northern Colorado softball had a big day at the plate on Sunday, sweeping the day with a 9-5 win over Utah State and a 2-0 shutout of Santa Clara. UNC ended its Silicon Valley Classic participation going 2-3 over the weekend.
"Hopefully we are turning the corner," head coach Ben Garcia said. "It's a long way to go, but today was a good day of buying in."
Bears vs. Aggies
Maggie Thurston was in the circle to start for UNC against Utah State's Chloe Nightingale.
UNC jumped on Utah State out of the gate in the bottom of the first, as Mady Young blasted her first home run of the year, with a two-run shot that scored Kenzie Kudrna. The Bears were not done in the inning, as Natalie Joyner would double to left center to score Emma Brockmann. A passed ball would allow to Joyner scoring and UNC was up 4-0 early.
The Aggies struck back with force in the top of the third, scoring five runs on four hits to pull ahead of the Bears, 5-4. Valerie Vidal would relive Thurston in the inning.
The Bears looked get something going in the bottom of the fourth, after a single, walk, and hit by pitch loaded the Bases. Shaena Robinson would be called on as a pinch hitter and she delivered in a big way, launching a ball over the left field wall for a grand slam. UNC was back in front 8-5.
Vidal was strong out the pen, pitching 4.1 innings, with no earned runs, four hits and three strikeouts.
In the bottom of the sixth, UNC tacked on another run as Young delivered an RBI triple to score Kudrna once more.
Vidal closed out the Aggies in the top of the seventh to get the 9-5 win.
Bears vs. Broncos. Pt. 2
Valerie Vidal would start this game in the circle for the Bears and she faced off against Santa Clara's Lauren Anderson.
UNC started the second game of the day quickly again, getting two, two-out singles from Mady Young and Hailee Swanson, but both runners were stranded. The Bears broke through in the top of the second, as Dani Young would steal home for her first career bag swipe and they were up 1-0.
The game was a pitcher's dual between Vidal and Anderson, as both were throwing well and putting zeroes up on the scoreboard.
In the top of the fifth, UNC scraped across another run when Kenzie Kudrna singled and managed to score on a Bronco fielding error.
Vidal was dominate, pitching seven, shutout innings and allowing only three hits, while striking out three and walking no one. Anderson finished with a stat line of 5.2 innings, one earned run, one strikeout and four walks, with eight hits allowed.
Santa Clara was threatening in the bottom of the seventh, with runners on second and third with two outs. Vidal locked in and struck out the final batter to earn her second win of the day and split the weekend series with the Broncos.
Game Notes
Next Up
Northern Colorado will head to Phoenix, Ariz. next weekend for the Lopes Up Classic, hosted by Grand Canyon University. UNC will play five games over the weekend.
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"Hopefully we are turning the corner," head coach Ben Garcia said. "It's a long way to go, but today was a good day of buying in."
Bears vs. Aggies
Maggie Thurston was in the circle to start for UNC against Utah State's Chloe Nightingale.
UNC jumped on Utah State out of the gate in the bottom of the first, as Mady Young blasted her first home run of the year, with a two-run shot that scored Kenzie Kudrna. The Bears were not done in the inning, as Natalie Joyner would double to left center to score Emma Brockmann. A passed ball would allow to Joyner scoring and UNC was up 4-0 early.
The Aggies struck back with force in the top of the third, scoring five runs on four hits to pull ahead of the Bears, 5-4. Valerie Vidal would relive Thurston in the inning.
The Bears looked get something going in the bottom of the fourth, after a single, walk, and hit by pitch loaded the Bases. Shaena Robinson would be called on as a pinch hitter and she delivered in a big way, launching a ball over the left field wall for a grand slam. UNC was back in front 8-5.
Vidal was strong out the pen, pitching 4.1 innings, with no earned runs, four hits and three strikeouts.
In the bottom of the sixth, UNC tacked on another run as Young delivered an RBI triple to score Kudrna once more.
Vidal closed out the Aggies in the top of the seventh to get the 9-5 win.
Bears vs. Broncos. Pt. 2
Valerie Vidal would start this game in the circle for the Bears and she faced off against Santa Clara's Lauren Anderson.
UNC started the second game of the day quickly again, getting two, two-out singles from Mady Young and Hailee Swanson, but both runners were stranded. The Bears broke through in the top of the second, as Dani Young would steal home for her first career bag swipe and they were up 1-0.
The game was a pitcher's dual between Vidal and Anderson, as both were throwing well and putting zeroes up on the scoreboard.
In the top of the fifth, UNC scraped across another run when Kenzie Kudrna singled and managed to score on a Bronco fielding error.
Vidal was dominate, pitching seven, shutout innings and allowing only three hits, while striking out three and walking no one. Anderson finished with a stat line of 5.2 innings, one earned run, one strikeout and four walks, with eight hits allowed.
Santa Clara was threatening in the bottom of the seventh, with runners on second and third with two outs. Vidal locked in and struck out the final batter to earn her second win of the day and split the weekend series with the Broncos.
Game Notes
- Valerie Vidal became UNC's career, solo-shutout leader after holding the Broncos off the scoreboard Sunday afternoon. Vidal has pitched seven, complete game solo-shutouts in her career. On the day, Vidal pitched 11.1 innings, with no earned runs, seven hits allowed and six strikeouts on her way to a 2-0 record.
- Northern Colorado's bats came to life on Sunday, scoring 11 runs on 16 hits, including two home runs, two doubles and one triple.
- The Bears were also disciplined at the plate, walking nine times and striking out only once as a team.
- Mady Young had a strong day at the plate, going five-for-eight with one run scored and three RBIs. Young was short of a double for the cycle on the day.
- Shaena Robinson hit her second home run of the season and has six RBIs. Robinson went two-for-three, with one walk on the day.
- UNC's defense was also solid with only one error and 13 assists on the day.
Next Up
Northern Colorado will head to Phoenix, Ariz. next weekend for the Lopes Up Classic, hosted by Grand Canyon University. UNC will play five games over the weekend.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Vidal, Valerie (2-11)
L: TOONE, Kapri (0-3)
Batting:
HR: HIRA, Kenned 1
RBI: HOLMES, Ryan 1 ; KUBA, Erin 1 ; HIRA, Kenned 3
Base Running:
RUNS: PLOGGER, Ril 1 ; REED, Stepha 1 ; OROZCO, Lexi 1 ; KUBA, Erin 1 ; HIRA, Kenned 1
HBP: BOLIN, Kenzi 1 ; HIRA, Kenned 1
Batting:
2B: Joyner, Natalie 1
3B: Young, Mady 1
HR: Robinson, Shaena 1 ; Young, Mady 1
RBI: Robinson, Shaena 4 ; Young, Mady 3 ; Joyner, Natalie 1
SH: Huerta, Alyssa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Schmidt, Madi 1 ; Kudrna, Kenzie 2 ; Robinson, Shaena 1 ; Young, Mady 1 ; Brockmann, Emma 1 ; Joyner, Natalie 1 ; Young, Dani 1 ; Simonsgaard, Katie 1
CS: Talmadge, Cheyenne 1
HBP: Schmidt, Madi 1 ; Swanson, Hailee 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
3
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
1
R
1
H
1
RBI
4
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
C
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballINF
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