Fisher's big day at the plate holds off Hornets for series split

Sunday, April 25

Greeley, CO

Noon MT

University of Northern Colorado

9-24, 0

Sacramento State

24-11, 0

Sacramento State

Northern Colorado

4/25/2021 4:12:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: By Thomas Hoffman, UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo. – An explosive offensive effort proved vital on Sunday as Northern Colorado held off a late charge from Sacramento State to secure the series split, 13-11.

Starter Sam Leach worked himself in and out of trouble in the first couple of innings. Though the Hornets squeaked across a run in the first, Leach was able to strand five runners in the first two frames to keep the Bears in the game.

It took until the third inning but UNC finally broke through.

Singles from Aiden Leahy and Shaydon Kubo set up Garrett Fisher with Northern Colorado's first scoring opportunity. Though Fisher regularly forced walks across the weekend, he turned on one to left field for a two-RBI double to take the lead.

Bot 3 | Garrett Fisher with a 2-RBI Double and we take the lead!!

UNC - 2
SAC - 1#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/cGW5trg94O
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) April 25, 2021

A batter later, Sam Leach helped himself, swinging 3-0 up the middle to score Fisher.

Sensing blood in the water and already having knocked out the Sacramento State starter, UNC wasn't quite done scoring.

Though Josh Glenn popped one up to left field, Sam Leach's hustle paid dividends as an error let Bears' starter score from first, handing UNC a three-run lead, 4-1.

Bot 3 | @SammyLeach6 taking advantage of the error to make a three-run lead!

UNC - 4
SAC - 1#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/81xIfzJBFH
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) April 25, 2021

Following two runs in the fourth from Sacramento State, Northern Colorado was quick to answer in the bottom half.

Kubo's second triple of the weekend brought home Hayden Heinze and Aiden Leahy.

Bot 4 | A second triple on the weekend @shaykubo as he extends the lead!!

UNC - 6
SAC - 3#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/bfQgv156wl
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) April 25, 2021

Again, the Hornets pushed across a run in the fifth but it didn't disrupt any of the Blue and Gold's momentum.

UNC broke open the game in the bottom end with seven runs on six hits, including Garrett Fisher's second double of the afternoon.

Bot 5 | Tack on two more RBI for @matt__burkart !!

UNC - 8
SAC - 4#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/p42lWEoYb8
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) April 25, 2021

In total, Fisher went 2-4 with two doubles, five RBI and a handful of great plays at first base.

Top 8 | THE GARRETT FISHER GAME!! Fish makes another great play at first! 

UNC - 13
SAC - 9 #BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/djtO4YdOdv
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) April 25, 2021

Those runs ultimately proved essential as Sacramento State clawed away at the Northern Colorado lead. Three runs in the seventh, two in the eighth and two in the ninth had the home crowd a bit more nervous than they might have expected.

Austin Bergdahl quickly turned that emotion into joy, forcing the final pop out of the day and securing the Bears' 13-11 victory.

Game Notes

Shaydon Kubo tallied his second triple of the weekend. The Hawaiian continues to stay hot, grabbing two hits and three RBI.
Aiden Leahy went 3-3 with three runs and an RBI
Five Bears had at least two hits on Sunday.
Garrett Fisher recorded two doubles and five RBI.
As a staff, Northern Colorado pitchers stranded 19 Hornet base runners.

What They Said
First baseman, Garrett Fisher

What's Ahead
Northern Colorado remains at home in the friendly confines of Jackson Field for its final home series of the year against Tarleton State. The series begins on Friday at 2 p.m. MT.

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