Seventh inning comeback falls short

Friday, May 14

Ogden, Utah

Noon MT

University of Northern Colorado

12-27, 8-11

Montana

18-29, 10-11

Northern Colorado

Montana

Photo by: WSU Athletics

5/14/2021 3:16:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

UNC softball's season ended with a 7-6 loss to Montana

By: By Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

OGDEN, Utah – Northern Colorado softball battled until the last out, falling just short in their comeback efforts as Montana defeated the Bears 7-6. The loss ends the team's 2021 season.

Northern Colorado found themselves in a hole to start the day as Montana jumped out to a 3-0 lead before an out was recorded. The Bears kept the damage at three making UM leave the bases loaded.

UNC threatened in the third leaving a pair on-base and cut into the Montana lead in the fourth. Back-to-back doubles by Alyssa Wenzel and Natalie Joyner plated the first run of the game for the Bears. Paola Villegas made it three straight hits, scoring Joyner to make it a 3-2 ball game.

Montana extended its lead back to three runs in the fifth.

The Bears entered the seventh down 7-2 but never counted themselves out. Errors kept UNC in the game as Montana committed three in the inning. Jayden Mercado started the inning reaching on a throwing error and standing on second when the dust settled.

She scored on the next at-bat, another UM error with Mady Young safely on first base because of it. The third Lady Griz error of the inning scored Young as Alison Steinker reached base.

Wenzel's second double of the day made it a 7-5 ballgame with runners on second and third with one out.

Joyner made it a 1-run game with her groundout, but the tying run was stranded on third to end the comeback effort.

Game Notes
- Emma Brockman, Alyssa Wenzel and Natalie Joyner each went 2-for-4 for the game. Joyner led the team driving in two runs.
- In her final time in the Blue and Gold, Maggie Thurston struck out three batters.
- Mady Young finished her UNC career ranked in the program's top 10 in runs, hits, doubles, triples, RBI and stolen bases.
- The Bears' final record for the 2021 season was 12-27. UNC did make its third straight Big Sky Tournament.

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