Late rally falls short for Baseball, Hornets take series opener

Friday, April 23

Greeley, CO

2 p.m. MT

University of Northern Colorado

7-23, 0

Sacramento State

23-10, 0

Sacramento State

Northern Colorado

4/23/2021 5:19:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: By Thomas Hoffman, UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo. – Another vintage Cooper Rust outing and some late drama in the ninth inning weren't quite enough on Friday as Sacramento held on for a 4-2 victory to open the series.

The Hornets scratched across a run in both the first and second innings but starting pitcher Cooper Rust settled down thanks to a handful of stellar defensive plays behind him.

T2 | What a catch‼️‼️‼️ 🤯#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/GSTNpDMToE
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) April 23, 2021

Trailing by two runs, Billy Moreland led off the bottom of the third inning with a stand-up double. Following a textbook bunt by Lincoln Turner, Shaydon Kubo stepped to the plate with a golden opportunity to get back into the ballgame.

The Hawaiian promptly cleared the bases with his second triple of the season, tying the game at two.

B3 | Kubo with a 2 RBI hit!! 

UNC - 2
SAC - 2#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/2Gs5Q4SkQX
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) April 23, 2021

Sacramento State jumped on Rust in the sixth inning with a pair of solo home runs. The visiting side might've added more were it not for more stellar defensive plays.

T6 | "ARE YOU KIDDING ME!" Ben McKay with the diving catch for the out!! 🤯🤯#BearsStrong #WACbsb #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/nUffuPe59T
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) April 23, 2021

Lincoln Turner in left and Ben McKay at short had themselves a day in the field, flashing leather left and right.

Once Rust finished up another six innings of solid work, Austin Bergdahl took over on the bump.

Bergdahl navigated his way through near-flawless seventh and eighth innings before turning the keys over Paul Falco.

Like Bergdahl, Falco put together a terrific ninth frame that gave his team a shot at heroics in the bottom of the ninth.

T9 | Strikeout for @Paulfalco13!!

UNC - 2
SAC- 4#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/AoTzQiScGX
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) April 23, 2021

And they nearly pulled it off.

With Hayden Heinze and Sam Leach already aboard with a pair of singles, RBI leader Josh Glenn stepped to the plate with no one out.

Although Glenn technically struck out swinging, a dropped third strike and some hustle down the line left him safe at first, and more importantly, left the bases loaded.

Heinze, ninety feet away from home, would agonizingly watch three straight UNC batter strikeout, though, ending what might've been a thrilling finish in front of the home crowd.

Instead, Sacramento State grabbed the first win of the series, 4-3.

Game Notes

Lincoln Turner flashed with multiple highlight-worthy plays in the left field.
Shaydon Kubo extended his hit streak to five games. Kubo went 2-4 with a triple and two RBI.
Austin Bergdahl pitched two scoreless innings of relief.
Paul Falco pitched the ninth inning, giving up two hits and striking out one in a scoreless performance.
Cooper Rust pitched another six solid innings in his second career start, striking out one and allowing three earned runs.

What's Ahead
Northern Colorado and Sacramento State will go at it twice on Saturday. The first game of the doubleheader is slated for Noon MT.

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