University of Northern Colorado Athletics
University of Northern Colorado
4-12, 0
New Mexico State University
6-7, 0
Aggies run away late to take series-opening win over Bears
3/19/2021 9:44:00 PM | Baseball
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Plenty of twists and turns highlighted the opening game of the series between Northern Colorado and New Mexico State. It was the Aggies, though, who ran away late to secure its victory, 13-7.
If any UNC fan was wondering if they packed their bats to Las Cruces, Jake Gitter answered with a resounding yes. Swinging on the first pitch of the series, Gitter rocketed a solo shot to give the Bears the early lead.
T1 | HOW BOUT THAT START! @jakegitter hammers the first pitch of the series!!#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/0EeELusShB
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) March 20, 2021
Three batters later, the WAC's RBI-lead Josh Glenn had another scoring opportunity with Kubo standing 90-feet away on third. Glenn did not disappoint, doubling down the right-field line to put UNC up two.
New Mexico State punched back quickly. Scoring one run on two hits in the bottom half of the first and then throwing up a four-spot in the second, the Aggies stole all the momentum.
Blake Tweedt and Johnny Graham sparked the comeback effort in the third inning. Both dialed up RBI efforts and Graham's double scratched his team within one.
Matt Burkart kept it going in the fourth, homering to left to tie it.
T4 | TIE BALLGAME!! @matt__burkart with a solo shot over the left field wall!!
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) March 20, 2021
UNC - 5
NMSU - 5#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/91zsgDRFmU
Despite surrendering five runs early, starting pitcher Dylan Bowers regained form in the third and fourth. Bowers pitched four full, striking out five.
The Bears weren't quite done at the plate. Between Sam Leach's RBI and Jake Gitter's double in the fifth frame, all of the sudden Northern Colorado regained a two-run advantage.
T4 | @SammyLeach6 with an RBI and we're back in front!!
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) March 20, 2021
UNC - 6
NMSU - 5#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/L3Y9KzJDwc
The roller coaster was far from finished, though.
New Mexico State countered for three more runs in the sixth and broke the game open in the seventh with five runs on four hits and an error.
There would be no heroics late in the desert for the Bears as New Mexico State sealed its first win of the series, 13-7.
Game Notes
- Sam Leach extended his hitting streak to 13 games.
- Jake Gitter launched his sixth home run of the year and continues to lead the WAC
- Josh Glenn added a 21st RBI to his conference-leading total.
- Johnny Graham posted one of his best days this season, recording two hits, an RBI and a double.
What's Ahead
Two games are on the docket for the Bears and Aggies tomorrow. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled for noon MT.
To stay up to date on all things UNC baseball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook and Twitter.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dickson Jr., Frank (1-0)
L: Wyatt, Sam (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Gitter, Jake 1 ; Kubo, Shaydon 1 ; Glenn, Josh 1 ; Graham , Johnny 1
HR: Gitter, Jake 1 ; Burkart, Matt 1
RBI: Gitter, Jake 2 ; Leach, Sam 1 ; Glenn, Josh 1 ; Tweedt, Blake 1 ; Graham , Johnny 1 ; Burkart, Matt 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gitter, Jake 2 ; Kubo, Shaydon 2 ; Leach, Sam 1 ; Burkart, Matt 2
Batting:
2B: Mann, Ethan 1
3B: Saenz, Zerek 1 ; Jimenez, Kevin 1
RBI: Saenz, Zerek 4 ; Dieter, Brandon 1 ; Jimenez, Kevin 4 ; Mann, Ethan 1 ; Bush, Jason 1 ; Duffy, Austin 1
SH: Duffy, Austin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Saenz, Zerek 3 ; Dieter, Brandon 2 ; Villareal, Cal 1 ; Haupt, Noah 1 ; Bush, Jason 3 ; Duffy, Austin 1 ; Tabak, Tommy 2
SB: Saenz, Zerek 1 ; Mann, Ethan 1 ; Haupt, Noah 1
