Bears kick off Summit League start with authoritative win over WIU

Friday, March 18

Greeley, Colo.

2 p.m. MT

University of Northern Colorado

4-14, 0

Western Illinois

2-14, 0

Western Illinois

Northern Colorado

3/18/2022 5:38:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: By Thomas Hoffman, UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo. – Sophomore Chase Cromer finished a double shy of the cycle as Northern Colorado scored in six separate innings to seal its first Summit League victory, 12-7.

The Leathernecks led the afternoon off with a triple but even though WIU pushed the runner across on a sacrifice fly, starting pitcher Ian Torpey stood strong to get out of the inning.

UNC and Jake King fought right back with a leadoff double. King's extra-base effort not only extended his hit streak to nine games but a Garrett Fisher single later in the inning brought the freshman home to tie the game.

Twice the Bears loaded the bases in the opening frame but could only get King all the way home.

Western Illinois grabbed two more runs in the top of the third inning but once again the Bears fought back.

Walks from Garrett Fisher and Carson Gross led to a scoring opportunity for Chase Cromer. The Texas native delivered with a single through the left side to cut into the Leathernecks' lead.

Northern Colorado broke open the game in the bottom end of the fourth. With Hayden Heinze already aboard with a walk, King continued his hot streak, picking up his second double of the afternoon to put himself and Heinze in scoring position.

It'd be a calm walk home, though, as Shaydon Kubo launched his second home run of the season over the left-field wall to give his team the lead, 5-3.

Josh Glenn didn't want to get left out of the fun. On the second pitch Glenn saw, the Draper, Utah native made it back-to-back bombs.

Both Chase and Cameron Cromer got in on the RBI action. Chase notched an RBI triple while Cameron logged an RBI single to make a six-run inning for the Bears.

For Torpey, a solid five innings with six strikeouts and just three walks had the sophomore in line for the win.

Chase Cromer's big day wasn't done just yet. After WIU struck for two runs in the top of the sixth inning, Cromer led the bottom off with his first home run in Division I Baseball.

Cam found success in his own right in the same inning. Showcasing his speed, Cromer grabbed an infield single, stole second and scampered home on a Kubo single to extend UNC's advantage, 11-7.

The Bears' everyday shortstop was back at it in the seventh stanza. A double off the left-field wall scored Fisher, making it a five-run game.

Owen Lockner had taken the reins in the sixth inning from Torpey and the righty pitched a gem coming out of the pen. Four full innings with two runs and zero walks made sure the Bears started the Summit League with a win, 12-7.

Game Notes

Jake King extended his hit streak to nine games.
King also led the team with three runs scored.
Shaydon Kubo launched his second home run of the season.
Josh Glenn hammered his fourth home run of 2022
Chase Cromer finished a double shy of the cycle.
Owen Lockner pitched a season-high 4.0 innings.
12 runs were a season-high for Northern Colorado

What's Ahead
Two more games are on deck with the Leathernecks this weekend before UNC heads to Salt Lake City for a midweek trip to Utah.

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