Rallies Fall Short for @BearsSoftball on Friday

Friday, March 15

Saint Louis, MO

2:30 pm

University of Northern Colorado

4-21

Northern Illinois

12-13

Northern Illinois

Northern Colorado

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

3/15/2019 7:35:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Northern Colorado went 0-2 in the first day of the Billiken Spring Tournament

By: Matthew Kushar, UNCBears.com

SAINT LOUIS, MO- Northern Colorado softball did not go quietly on Friday afternoon, but came up short in both of its games. UNC lost to Northern Illinois 8-3 and Saint Louis 8-5 during the first day of the Billiken Spring Tournament.

Bears vs. Huskies
Valerie Vidal started in the circle for UNC in the game one of the day against Northern Illinois' Mackenzie Bryan.

Scoring started in the first inning for both teams, as the Huskies scored two runs in the first inning on a triple to right center.

Cheyenne Talmadge would get a lead-off single in the bottom of the first and then steal second base. After being moved to third base, Dani Young would single to left field and bring Talmadge into score. UNC cut the Northern Illinois lead in half at 2-1.

The Bears would have two runners on in the bottom of the second, but could not get any runs out of the opportunity.

The Huskies built some breathing room with a solo-home run in the top of the fourth. Northern Illinois added another run in the top of the fifth with an RBI single to lead 4-1 on UNC.

In the top of the sixth, the Huskies offense came to life, scoring four runs on three hits and the lead ballooned to 8-1.

Now in the bottom of the sixth, the Bears got two runs back when Emma Brockmann hit her first home run of the season, a two-run blast to cut into the Northern Illinois lead.

Despite the home run, the Huskies held on in the bottom of the seventh and closed out the Bears for the win. Vidal took the loss after pitching 5.1 innings with eight earned runs, while Bryan earned the win in 5 innings of work with two earned runs.

Bears vs. Billikens
Maggie Thurston got the call to start in the circle for UNC in game two and she was opposed by Saint Louis' Aubrey Hacke.

Saint Louis scored quickly in the bottom of the first, with four runs on four hits, aided by one UNC fielding error to jump out in front.

UNC responded the next half inning after Dani Young and Shaena Robinson lead-off the inning with singles. Taylor Libby would come to bat and lace a single to center field to score Young. The Bears now trailed 4-1.

The Billikens would put up a three-spot in the bottom of the third inning on four hits and UNC was in a down 7-1. Taylor Puga would replace Thurston in the inning.

Hacke kept UNC hitters in check, limiting them to one hit after the RBI single in the top of the second.

Saint Louis added one run in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single to increase the deficit to 8-1.

The Bears were not going to away without a fight in the top of the seventh inning. Emma Brockmann lead-off the inning with a single and Maddee Blood-Smyth would single with one out to put two runners on. Cheyenne Talmadge would reach on a Billiken error and UNC had the bases loaded. Mady Young would walk to bring Brockmann home and the Bears were chipping away at the lead. Hailee Swanson would get an infield single to score Blood-Smyth. Dani Young would step up and single to center field and score Young and Talmadge and

UNC was in business down 8-5. Hacke retired the next hitter and the rally ended for UNC.

Thurston suffered the loss after pitching 2.1 innings with five earned runs. Hacke picked up the win after the complete game with five runs, none earned.

Game Notes

Emma Brockmann had a good Friday at the plate, batting three-for-six with two runs scored, one home run and two RBIs.
Dani Young was also effective at the plate, batting three-for-seven with one run scored and three RBIs.
Cheyenne Talmadge went three-for-eight with two runs scored.
Mady Young walked four times on Friday, with one RBI and scoring one run.
Taylor Puga pitched 3.2 innings of relief, allowing only one earned run on Friday.

Following the Bears
Northern Colorado will play its last two games of the Billiken Spring Tournament on Saturday, starting with Detroit-Mercy at 1:30 pm MST and followed by Nebraska-Omaha at 3:30 pm.