Bears come to the plate in WAC play

Friday, March 22

Greeley, Colo.

2PM

University of Northern Colorado

Chicago State University

UNC opens WAC play Friday against Chicago State.

3/21/2019 1:21:00 PM | Baseball

By: Ryan Ronan

UNC set out to challenge itself during the non-conference schedule and they got just what they were looking for. They took on a team coming off a College World Series appearance, Washington, and Portland who is off to a 15-6 start.

So, what do the Bears have to look forward to as they open WAC play on Friday against Chicago State?

Preseason favorites New Mexico State, 15-5, and Grand Canyon, 10-10, have played slightly different schedules to this point but are in a position to fulfill that prediction.
UNC is coming off a win over Colorado State-Pueblo and is looking to start the second season off on the right foot against the Cougars.

BEAR BITES

Jake Gitter leads the Bears with a .370 average. He has added seven doubles, a home run and a triple.
Preseason All-WAC outfielder Jack Pauley hasn't disappointed hitting .340 with a team-high 12 RBIs and five doubles.
UNC has used its speed to help generate runs. They are 19-for-28 led by three players with three swipes apiece.
Issac Bracken will get the Friday night start against CSU and has shown his ability to the team ace including a 10-strikeout game in a win over North Dakota State.

The Bears made the trip to the Windy City last season and had the Cougars take 2-of-3 from UNC, but the Bears own a commanding 26-6 all-time series lead.

CSU INSIGHT

The Cougars are coming in with a 5-12 record
They played two games already this week beating Northern Illinois at home and falling late to Iowa on the road.
CSU has a trio of players hitting over .330, Matt Sullivan, Andy Gaytan and Gabriel Coburn.
Brett Gregory leads the Cougars in innings pitched with 25.2 and currently has a 5.61 ERA.

It will be the WAC opener for both teams.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP