UNC splits doubleheader with NDSU, looks to take series Sunday

Saturday, March 6

Greeley, CO

Noon MT

University of Northern Colorado

3-6

North Dakota State University

6-2

North Dakota State

Northern Colorado

3/6/2021 6:03:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: By Thomas Hoffman, UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo. – It was a tale of two games for Northern Colorado at Jackson Field on Saturday afternoon. After falling 11-1 in the first of the doubleheader, the Bears roared back with an emphatic win, 14-4, over the Bison.
Where Dylan Bowers was impressive early and often for the Bears yesterday, North Dakota State was equally eager to jump out to a good start on Saturday.

The Bison opened the scoring in the top half of the first, pushed across two in the second and broke it open in the sixth with four runs.

Defensive plays highlighted UNC effort in the first of two on doubleheader Saturday. Starter Sam Leach forced NDSU into a 6-4-3 double play in the third and catcher Garrett Fisher gunned down a runner trying to steal in the fifth.

T3 | How bout that? An inning-ending 643 double play!!

NDSU - 3
UNC - 0 #BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/BCqwrxs7Yl
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) March 6, 2021

Johnny Graham flashed his muscles in the seventh with a solo shot over the left-field fence. It was too little too late, though, as the Bison claimed the first game, 11-1.

B7 | Goodbye baseball!! @jdegraham2 with a solo shot!

NDSU - 11
UNC - 1#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/LpueNVHcJv
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) March 6, 2021

The Bears worked quickly to open the second game of the day. UNC loaded the bases via a Josh Glenn single, Blake Tweedt walk and a Matt Burkart single. An error from the NDSU catcher let Glenn and Tweedt scamper across home plate to give Northern Colorado the early lead.

With a two-run advantage, Matt Burkart thought that wasn't quite enough.

The right-fielder rocketed the first pitch he saw over the left-field fence for a three-run bomb that put UNC up 5-0.

B4 | You're not catching that one! @matt__burkart first-pitch swinging makes it 5-0!!!

NDSU - 0
UNC - 5#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/Hovk8zLqgn
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) March 6, 2021

The Bison bit back with four runs on four hits in the top of fifth to close the gap 5-4.

Again, Northern Colorado wasn't satisfied with its lead.

Sam Leach and Blake Tweedt each delivered with solo shots in the bottom of the fifth, widening the gap for the Bears, 7-4.

An inning later, Northern Colorado baserunners took advantage of a couple of passed balls to push another insurance run across to make it a four-run lead.

While a four-run cushion seemed nice, UNC's offense decided to leave no doubt in the bottom of the eight.

By the time Josh Glenn walked to the plate, the bases were loaded with just one out. Glenn promptly hammered a grand slam to left field, his first home run of the season.

B8 | 🚨GRAND SLAM ALERT🚨 @joshglenn28 

NDSU - 4
UNC - 13#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/CaVB59dJJz
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) March 7, 2021

Blake Tweedt, who finished a double short of the cycle, tripled in the next at-bat, allowing Aiden Leahy to bring him home, ending the game just before dark.

Game Notes

Blake Tweedt and Sam Leach each hit their first home runs of the season.
Tweedt finished with three hits, a double short of the cycle, four runs and two walks.
Sam Colehower pitched two full innings, striking out three and giving up hits.
Blake Tweedt and Sam Leach each hit their first home runs of the season.
Josh Glenn was 3-5 in game two with four RBI

What's Ahead.
Northern Colorado hosts North Dakota State one last time on Sunday. The game is set for noon MT.

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