Northern Colorado seeking split as doubleheader will spill into Sunday

Saturday, February 27

Greeley, CO

Noon MT

University of Northern Colorado

2-3

South Dakota State University

3-2

South Dakota State

Northern Colorado

2/27/2021 6:22:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: By Thomas Hoffman, UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo. – The Bears and Jackrabbits could hardly be separated on Saturday afternoon. It took 10 innings and an international tiebreaker for SDSU to claim the first game and the second remains tied at three apiece before it's picked up tomorrow morning.

South Dakota State looked to pick up right where they left off Friday afternoon, quickly loading the bases. The defense behind Sam Leach picked up their starter, forcing a double play to help the Bears surrender only one.

With Shaydon Kubo already aboard, a Quinn Ayers double put them both in scoring position. Billy Moreland, eager to get going in the series, pushed Kubo across via a groundout RBI but it would be just the start for the UNC first baseman.

B2 | There's the RBI! @thebillestkid pushes Kubo across and we're tied at 1!!

SDSU - 1
UNC - 1#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/mSxCJxtmaK
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) February 27, 2021

SDSU grabbed a second run in the third but the resilient Bears countered with a run of its own in the bottom half via a Josh Glenn RBI single.

Both starters cruised through the fourth and fifth. For Northern Colorado, it was Ian Isdale who came in relief of Leach to keep the deadlock on two.

T6 | Huge strikeout from @isdale17 to keep the game tied!!

SDSU - 2
UNC - 2#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/Tg6I7qiqcy
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) February 27, 2021

Isdale pitched two solid innings, giving up just one hit.

UNC had a chance to end the game in seven innings after two passed balls put Lincoln Turner on third. Unable to dial-up any two-out heroics, the game marched on.

The Bears put more pressure on in the eighth with two on and one out. However, two straight strikeouts prevented Northern Colorado from reaching home.

With the international tiebreaker in effect, the Jacks grabbed four runs and four hits, proving to be the difference in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.

Jacob Salim navigated in and out of trouble to begin the second ballgame of the day.

T1 | Sit 'em down Salim!

SDSU - 0
UNC - 0 #BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/v5XZBlWjcs
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) February 27, 2021

The Oral Roberts transfer stranded a Jacks runner at third in the first inning, got himself out of a bases-loaded jam in the second and surrendered just one run in the third.

In total, Salim pitched five innings, striking out six and giving up just one run while stranding six SDSU runners on the bases.

South Dakota State added two runs in the top of the sixth on two hits and had many thinking it might spell the Bears' second loss of the day.

Sam Leach, Josh Glenn and Ben McKay had other ideas.

Leach's RBI single got the rally going, scoring Hayden Heinze, Glenn's RBI brought home Leach and Ben McKay's double drove in the pinch-runner Blake Tweedt to bring Northern Colorado all the way back.

T6 | It's TIED!!! McKay with the RBI double!

SDSU - 3
UNC - 3#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/m3RZTvxIlj
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) February 28, 2021

With darkness looming over Jackson Field, the game would be forced to be postponed until tomorrow morning.

Game Notes

Sam Leach pitched five innings, giving up five hits, surrendering just one earned run and striking out five.
UNC pitchers left 15 South Dakota State runners stranded on Saturday
Ben McKay finished with three hits and an RBI on the day.
Iain Isdale continues to impress, going two full innings, striking out two and giving up just one hit.

What's Ahead
The last of Game No. 3 will continue Sunday morning at 11 a.m. and then the Bears and Jacks will reset for the final game of the series at Noon MT.

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