Bears Time in Texas Comes to an End

Sunday, February 23

Beaumont, TX

9 am

University of Northern Colorado

3-12

Saint Johns

4-11

St. John's

Northern Colorado

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

2/23/2020 12:58:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Northern Colorado falls in its final game of the Cardinal Classic to St. Johns

By: Matthew Kushar, UNCBears.com

BEAUMONT, TX – Northern Colorado softball ended its time at the Cardinal Classic on Sunday morning, losing to St. Johns 12-5. UNC went 1-4 in the tournament hosted by Lamar University.

After a solid start yesterday, Erin Caviness got the call in the circle against the Red Storm. St. Johns had Angela Saric in the circle.

The Red Storm started fast against Caviness, scoring three runs on four hits in the top of the first.

UNC responded in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs on four hits. Alyssa Wenzel led off with a single to center and Emma Brockmann would then double to center to bring Wenzel into score. Reyna Caudillo would single to left field and Brockmann moved to third. Bridgett Strobl came with a clutch single to score Brockmann, but Caudillo was tagged out at third. The Bears closed the gap to 3-2 against St. Johns.

The scoring continued in the top of the second, as the Red Storm pushed three more runs across on two hits, along with a UNC fielding error. Laney Hanehan relived Caviness in the inning to halt any further damage. The Bears were now down 6-2.

UNC cut into the lead in the bottom of the second, as Alyssa Wenzel doubled to center and Lauren Strathearn scored. It was now 6-3 in favor of the Red Storm. Erin Brown would replace Saric in the circle during the inning for St. Johns.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Bears had runners at the corners with one out, but were unable to string another hit together to score.

St. Johns would extend its lead in the top of the sixth, scoring two runs on a single to center field. Wenzel was able to cut the runner down trying to extend the hit into a double.

Now in the bottom of the sixth, Natalie Joyner led off with a walk, Amanda Hedges singled and Strathearn singled to load the bases with no outs. After a fly out, Mady Young laced a single down the left field line to score Joyner and Hedges. The Bears could not cause any more damage, but had cut the lead to 8-5.

The Red Storm would deliver a knock-out blow in the top of the seventh, scoring four runs on four hits. Brown closed out UNC in the bottom of the seventh and win the game 12-5.

Caviness suffered the loss, after allowing five earned runs in one inning pitched.

Game Notes

Alyssa Wenzel had her third, three hit game of the season Sunday, going 3-of-4 with one run scored and one RBI.
Lauren Strathearn recorded her fifth multi- game of the season, going 2-of-3.
UNC batters walked three times and struck out only once in the game.

What's Ahead?
Northern Colorado will go back to Albuquerque, N.M. for the second New Mexico Tournament. UNC will play South Dakota, New Mexico and La Salle next weekend.