University of Northern Colorado Athletics
University of Northern Colorado
6-17, 0
Utah Valley University
4-16, 0
Wolverines force series split with Sunday win over Bears
3/28/2021 3:59:00 PM | Baseball
GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado out-hit Utah Valley on Sunday and nearly solidified its first walk-off win of the season but were stopped short, splitting the series with the Wolverines after the 7-6 loss.
After Matt Burkart tied teammate Jake Gitter with his seventh home run of the season on Saturday, the New Orleans native made sure the tie didn't last for long.
On a 2-1 count in the top of the first, Gitter smashed one over the right-field fence to give the Bears a quick lead.
B1 | See ball. Hit Ball. They're not gonna catch that ball!!@jakegitter
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) March 28, 2021
UNC - 1
UVU - 0 #BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/CV7GV29zRg
Utah Valley returned serve rapidly, though, scoring three runs on a hit and a couple of walks in the second frame to leapfrog UNC on the scoreboard.
The Wolverines didn't hold it for long.
Singles from Hayden Heinze, Josh Glenn and Sam Leach put a two-spot on board to knot the contest up at three.
B3 | @SammyLeach6 is good at baseball !! Tie ballgame!!
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) March 28, 2021
UNC - 3
UVU - 3#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/Yz9S2uZPTr
Momentum swung back towards the visitors in the third and fourth innings. In total, UVU managed three additional runs to double up the Bears, 6-3.
Ben McKay's bunt single sparked an offensive run in the fifth. Garrett Fisher picked up the RBI to claw UNC back within two.
Once again, the Wolverines had the answer, delivering a solo shot in the seventh to restore its three-run lead.
Northern Colorado had something working in the bottom half. With the bases loaded and two out, Hayden Heinze stepped to the dish. Already with a duo of acrobatic plays in the field, Heinze's RBI-single scored two runs to pull get his team back to a one-run deficit. However, trying to stretch a single into a double, the inning ended before UNC could try for the tying run.
T7 | @hheinze57 AGAIN!!!
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) March 28, 2021
UNC - 4
UVU - 6#BearsStrong #WACbsb #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/dp9hLhw8yK
With rally-caps at the ready, the Bears put two aboard in the bottom of ninth with no outs. A third double play of the day from the Wolverines put a damper on any hope of walk-off as the Bears were forced to split the series.
Game Notes
- Jake Gitter hit his WAC-leading eighth home run of the year.
- Garrett Fisher notched his third RBI of the season.
- Fisher also grabbed his first stolen base of the season.
- Northern Colorado pitchers stranded 11 UVU runners on Sunday
- Logan Chase pitched one full inning, giving up just one hit and striking out two.
What's Ahead
Northern Colorado remains at home for one more week, welcoming Seattle to Jackson Field for a four-game set beginning on Thursday, April 1.
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: Gray, Mason (1-3)
L: Mansur, Ashton (0-2)
S: Triplett, Spenser (3)
Batting:
HR: Moralez, Mitch 1 ; Marco, Alexander 1 ; Arens, Jeff 1
RBI: Moralez, Mitch 1 ; Marco, Alexander 1 ; Arens, Jeff 1 ; Lords, Tavyn 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Moralez, Mitch 1 ; Marco, Alexander 1 ; Sims, Drew 1 ; Hayes, Pacen 1 ; Arens, Jeff 1 ; Madsen, Mick 2
SB: Lords, Tavyn 1
HBP: Broussard, Garrett 1
Batting:
2B: Heinze, Hayden 1 ; Fisher, Garrett 1
HR: Gitter, Jake 1
RBI: Heinze, Hayden 3 ; Gitter, Jake 1 ; Leach, Sam 1 ; Fisher, Garrett 1
SH: Leahy, Aiden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Heinze, Hayden 1 ; Gitter, Jake 1 ; McKay, Ben 2 ; Fisher, Garrett 2
SB: Fisher, Garrett 1
HBP: Burkart, Matt 1
