Rust leads Bears over Lopes in series opener

Friday, April 9

Phoenix, AZ

7 p.m. MT

University of Northern Colorado

7-17, 3-10

Grand Canyon University

14-14-1, 9-4

Northern Colorado

Grand Canyon

4/9/2021 10:04:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: By Thomas Hoffman, UNCBears.com

PHOENIX, Ariz. – A big effort from freshman Cooper Rust and a little bit of everything from everyone else helped Northern Colorado capture the opening game of the series, 4-2.

After a week off of baseball, the Bears were eager to get off to a hot start on Friday. UNC jumped all over Grand Canyon early.

Two runs came across in the top of the first. WAC RBI leader Josh Glenn batted in the first with a fielder's choice and a second came via an error on the same play.

Two innings later, hits from Glenn, Sam Leach and Matt Burkart led to another two-spot, vaulting the Bears to a 4-0 lead.

T3 | The sweet swing of @matt__burkart makes it a three-run game!

UNC - 2
GCU - 0#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/YAfJB1tDgG
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) April 10, 2021

Freshman starting pitcher Cooper Rust didn't mind the run support. Grabbing his first start in the Blue and Gold, Rust showed great command of the strike zone all evening long.

The Sandy, Utah native pitched six full innings, struck out one and gave up just two runs.

END 2 | Got 'em!! @Coop_rusty_15 with the strikeout and we continue to lead!

UNC - 2
GCU - 0#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/oHLSQysWaW
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) April 10, 2021

Though GCU scratched across a run in the third and one more in the sixth, UNC's pitching staff continued to keep the Lopes guessing.

Rust also had stern defense working behind him on Friday. After flipping a 5-4-3 double-play in the fourth inning, Quinn Ayers and Billy Moreland dialed up a highlight-worthy play to keep the lead intact.

B4 | The dive 😱 @quinnayersmusic 

The stretch 🤯 @thebillestkid 

UNC - 4
GCU - 1#BearsStrong #WACbsb #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/X1TZzi2uNw
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) April 10, 2021

With Rust completing his duties in the sixth, Northern Colorado turned to another freshman in Dylan Day.

Day promptly set down the side in order, recording two strikeouts along the way.

END 2 | Got 'em!! @Coop_rusty_15 with the strikeout and we continue to lead!

UNC - 2
GCU - 0#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/oHLSQysWaW
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) April 10, 2021

An inning later, veteran Austin Bergdahl got his turn on the bump. Though Bergdahl worked himself into a bit of trouble with two runners aboard, the big righty delivered two massive strikeouts to hand the keys over to Logan Chase.

Chase was not going to be denied his first save of the season. In just 10 pitches, he shut out the lights at GCU Ballpark with a quick 1-2-3 inning, including an emphatic strikeout to end it.

END 9 | GOODNIGHT PHOENIX!!!@Logan343434
 
UNC - 4
GCU - 2#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/4aB817aMlA
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) April 10, 2021

What They Said
Head coach, Carl Iwasaki
"That was a great team win with a gutsy performance from Cooper Rust. We have the momentum going into tomorrow's doubleheader."

Game Notes

Cooper Rust earned his first start as a Bear, going 6.0 innings with one strikeout.
Josh Glenn continues to rack up the RBI, tacking on his 30^th of the season.
Dylan Day impressed once again, pitching one full inning of relief. Day struck out two while setting down the side in order.
Austin Bergdahl pitched the eighth, striking out two to keep GCU at bay.
Logan Chase put an emphatic stamp on the win, capturing his first save of the season.

What's Ahead
Northern Colorado will play two games on Saturday against the Lopes. The first pitch is slated for 3 p.m. MT.

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