Baseball splits with CCU as Bears match longest game in history

Saturday, February 20

Lakewood, CO

11 a.m. MT

University of Northern Colorado

0-1

Colorado Christian University

1-0

Northern Colorado

Colo. Christian

2/20/2021 7:17:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: By Thomas Hoffman, UNCBears.com

LAKEWOOD, Colo. – You wanted baseball? You got baseball.

After nearly a full calendar year since its season shut down due to COVID-19, Northern Colorado Baseball went 15 innings with Cougars in game one on Saturday and added five more in game two before darkness ended a full day at All-Star Park.

Dylan Bowers got the nod in game one. Bowers had his stuff working early and often from the bump, striking out seven batters and walking just three in five innings of work.

Colorado Christian pushed runs across in the first, fourth and seventh innings with the Bears countering with a Jake Gitter home run (one of two he'd collect on the day), two RBI from Matt Burkart and an RBI single from Josh Glenn in the fifth.

Most of the drama unfolded in the ninth frame.

Following a three-run seventh from CCU, the Bears were backed up against a wall with only three outs remaining.

Enter Josh Glenn once more.

The Draper, Utah native doubled to right-center, scoring three and sending the game into extra.

From there, pitchers Sam Wyatt, Austin Bergdahl, Logan Chase and Shane Hoodman took turns extending a dramatic opening game of the season.

Though Colorado Christian inevitably pushed across the winning run in the 15th inning, the Bears had all the moment leading into game two.

Sam Leach, who went 2-5 and scored a run in game one, got the start on the mound in game two.

Leach gave up a solo shot in the first but righted the ship nicely, mowing down the Cougars with five strikeouts and zero walks in the five innings played.

Jake Gitter solidified what was the best offensive performance from the Bears with a second homer in the third inning, this one a two-run shot that gave UNC the lead which they would not relinquish.

Billy Moreland's sacrifice fly in the fourth, Glenn's RBI single in the fifth and Burkart's fielder's choice made sure the Bears scored in every inning from the second on.

After five full, darkness engulf All Star Park, handing Northern Colorado its first victory of the season, 5-1.

What They Said

Head Coach, Carl Iwasaki

"Solid opening day at the ballpark. I wanted to play the maximum number of innings and I guess we did. Great battle with a good Colorado Christian team. They came out willing to fight but so did the Bears. Down three with two outs in the top of the ninth, we tied the game up. That's what I want to see from our club this year. The scoreboard is going to be secondary in the first three weeks of the season. I saw our team come back with strong grit and commitment to compete.

"[Sam] Leach pitched a pretty good gem in game two. Just the one run on CCU's side and we started well offensively.

"We've got two games against a solid ballclub tomorrow. This is a good opener for us and we've got our work cut out for us tomorrow."

Stat of the Day

Jake Gitter complete an insane offensive stat line, finishing 7-10 at the dish with two doubles, two home runs, four runs scored, three RBI and a stolen base.

Game Notes

- Northern Colorado's 15 inning matchup against Colorado Christian matches its longest game in program history. The Bears previously went 15 innings with Sam Houston State in 2010.

- UNC relievers Sam Wyatt, Austin Bergdahl and Logan Chase combined for five strikeouts in seven innings, giving up zero runs in the thrilling 15-inning affair.

- Josh Glenn dialed up a team-high five RBI across the Bears' two games.

- Northern Colorado was a perfect 6-6 in stolen base attempts Saturday.

What's Ahead

UNC and CCU will go head-to-head in Lakewood in two more games on Sunday. Tomorrow's doubleheader is slated to begin at 11 a.m. MT.

To stay up to date on all things UNC baseball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook and Twitter.