Softball sweeps Vikings in doubleheader

Friday, April 2

Greeley, Colo.

1:00 pm

University of Northern Colorado

5-18, 1-3

Portland State

3-18, 0-4

Portland State

Northern Colorado

4/2/2021 11:03:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Mady and Dani Young go a combined 11 for 12 in the doubleheader

By: By Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo. – It was good to be young at Gloria Rodriguez Field. Mady and Dani Young provided a big spark for UNC in their doubleheader sweep of Portland State. The duo was 11-for-12 at the plate with seven RBI and seven runs scored as UNC won 6-3 and 10-7.

Mady was a perfect 6-for-6 with a triple and two doubles. Dani was a double shy of a cycle in the second game, with her home run being a grand slam.

Game 1 Recap
Northern Colorado wasted no time getting on the board in the bottom of the first. Mady Young ripped a triple to the center field wall and one pitch later was brought home by Paola Villegas.

After Portland State tied the game in the top of the fourth, UNC reclaimed the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Natalie Joyner tripled to the gap in right center scoring Carson Fischer and Dani Young.

The Bears added on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth with two outs. Mady Young capped off a 3-3 day with a double down the left field line that scored D. Young. M. Young scored two pitches later with Villegas poking a single into right center making it a 6-2 game.

PSU threatened in the seventh, scoring once, but Erin Caviness finished off her seventh complete game of the year. She stranded 13 Vikings in the game while striking out four.

Game 2 Recap
A 12-pitch battle broke open the scoring in game two of the doubleheader. D. Young won the battle crushing a ball down the left field line staying just fair for a grand slam.

The Bears took that 4-0 lead into the fourth as starter Maggie Thurston was cruising along. UNC's bats exploded for another big inning, this time scoring five runs. Fischer and D. Young started the rally with back-to-back singles. Joyner continued to come up with clutch hits scoring Fischer and D. Young came home on a Lauren Strathearn single.

The inning was capped off with a little league home run. M. Young singled to left center and ended up around the bath paths on a throwing error making it 9-0 UNC heading to the fifth.

Portland State made a late charge at the Bears with three runs in the fifth and sixth to cut it to 9-6. Northern Colorado added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth and Cavaniss ended her day with a save as the Bears held on to the 10-7 win.

Coach Garcia's Thoughts

Coach Ben Garcia's thoughts after today's doubleheader sweep of Portland State. #BearsStrong🐻🥎 pic.twitter.com/R2RY3kyQ68
— UNC Bears Softball (@UNC_BearsSB) April 3, 2021

Game Notes
- Erin Caviness was busy today in the circle going the full seven in game one allowing three runs, only two earned and striking out four. She picked up the final two outs of game two and earned the save.
- The Bears did a good job of making Portland State strand runners. Over the two games, PSU left 20 runners base.
- Natalie Joyner did a great job of flipping the lineup for UNC going 4-6 with two runs scored and three RBI.

What's Ahead
Northern Colorado and Portland State close out their series on Saturday with a noon first pitch at Gloria Rodreguez Field.

To stay up to date on all things UNC softball, visit UNCBears.com follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the UNC Athletics App.