@BearsSoftball Sweeps Bengals in Friday Doubleheader

Friday, April 5

Greeley, Colo.

1 pm

University of Northern Colorado

7-28, 2-4

Idaho State

14-18, 4-2

Idaho State

Northern Colorado

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

4/5/2019 8:25:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Northern Colorado pulled close to .500 in the Big Sky after the two wins

By: Matthew Kushar, UNCBears.com

Friday was a good day for Northern Colorado softball, as the team swept the doubleheader against Idaho State. UNC had strong pitching and timely hitting to pick up two important Big Sky wins to start the weekend.

"Our pitching was superb today," head coach Ben Garcia said. "We're constantly defending with runners on base this season. Today we didn't have that and we found our groove and shutting it down as much as possible. It relaxed us a lot. Taylor Puga came in and Valerie [Vidal] had pitched well up to that one inning. [Puga] came in and gave us an opportunity. We found a way to get a couple of runners on base and Hailee had an absolute huge hit for us. That gave us a spring-board into what we could do. I was really pleased with Katie Simonsgaard came in and got on base to give us some opportunities. Alyssa [Huerta] came through and did a good job."

Game 1
Valerie Vidal started in the circle for Northern Colorado in the first game of the day. Idaho State sent Autumn Pease to the circle to face Vidal.

Vidal worked out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the first inning to keep the game scoreless. Idaho St. threatened again in the top of the third, with runners on second and third, but Vidal again held the Bengals off the scoreboard.

In the bottom of the third, Natalie Joyner delivered a double to left center that allowed Cheyenne Talmadge to score. UNC had the 1-0 lead over Idaho St.

The Bengals scored three runs in the top of the fifth, highlighted by a two-run, home run from Aubrey Creekmore. Idaho St. was up 3-1 in the game and Taylor Puga came on in relief of Vidal.

UNC would respond in the bottom of the sixth, as Mady Young doubled with one out in the inning to put a runner in scoring position. Dani Young would walk with two outs to put runners on, with the Bears needing a clutch hit. Haile Swanson provided that hit with a three-run, home run to give UNC a 4-3 advantage over the Bengals. It was the freshman's second home run of the season.

"She was throwing me a lot of outside and I knew her favorite pitch was a screw ball," Swanson said. "I thought she was going to come back in on my hands. I saw the pitch well and drove it. I think for us it was a big deal since we have been struggling in the season. It built our confidence and showed we are a team that people should fear."

Puga closed out the game in the top of the seventh, with two ground outs and line out to secure the 4-3 win. Puga earned her first career victory, pitching 2.2 shutout innings and allowing two hits.

Game 2
After earning the win in game one, Taylor Puga stayed in the circle to open the second game in the doubleheader. Puga faced Idaho State's Kelsea Sweeney.

Puga was effective early on, limiting Idaho St. two only a pair of hits through the first two innings.

Kenzie Kudrna started out the game with a bunt single to give UNC a quick baserunner. Kudrna would steal second and then scored from third on an Idaho St. error. The Bears raced out to a 1-0 lead over the Bengals.

UNC added to the lead in the bottom of the second, following an RBI double from Cheyenne Talmadge to score Hailee Swanson. After stealing third, Talmadge would come home on another Idaho St. error. The Bears opened a 3-0 lead over the Bengals after the first two innings.

Idaho St. pushed a run across in the top of the fourth, with a RBI single from Aubrey Creekmore to score Emma Bordenkecher. Valerie Vidal entered the game to replace Puga.

In the bottom of the fifth, Mady Young would reach base on an error and advance to second after Emma Brockmann was hit by a pitch. Young would steal third and would come into score after Swanson hit a sacrifice fly. The Bears now had a 4-1 advantage in the game.

The Bengals pushed their own run across the next half inning with an RBI single.

With UNC up 4-2, Vidal closed out Idaho St. in the top of the seventh to earn the doubleheader sweep. Vidal earned the win after pitching a sold four innings, with one earned run and three hits allowed. She also recorded one strikeout and one walk.

Game Notes

Valerie Vidal and Taylor Puga combined to allow five earned runs in 14 innings of work, for a 3.21 ERA. The two also had four strikeouts to three walks. Vidal earned her sixth win of the season and now has 30 career wins, one away from the program record.
Hailee Swanson batted one-for-two with four RBIs, one home run and two runs scored, while walking once.
UNC's speed was on display, as the team was eight-for-eight on stolen base attempts. Mady Young, Cheyenne Talmadge and Taylor Renaud each stole two bases on Friday.
Seven Bears recorded hits between the two games. Alyssa Huerta, Talmadge and Young each had two hits.