Bears Power Past Omaha in Series Opener

Friday, March 22

Greeley, Colo.

2 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

1-21, 1-3

Omaha

3-17, 1-3

Omaha

Northern Colorado

3/22/2024 10:09:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Michael High, Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado utilized the longball to rout Omaha 15-5 in seven innings at Jackson Field Friday.

The Bears (1-21, 1-3 Summit League) banged out 13 hits in the win – the second most this season and second-straight contest with 13 knocks. Of the 13 hits, UNC smashed a season-high four home runs, including two by Kai Wagner. He went 3-for-5, with two runs scored and five driven in, setting career highs in hits and RBIs.

Zain Zinicola tallied three hits in five at-bats, with two runs scored. Jake King posted a 2-for-3 game, with a walk and scored three runs. Dalton Miller notched the first two hits of his career at the NCAA Division I level, in three at-bats, with three runs and three runs-batted-in.

Caden Wagner went 2-for-4, with a walk, scoring once and driving in another run.

UNC scored in five of its six times at bat, scoring two in the first and third, the Bears added four in the second and fourth innings, while registering three in the sixth.

Brandon Sanchez put his side up 1-0 with a one-out homer down the left-field line. He deposited the first pitch he saw over the wall for the first home run of his career. Two batters later, Kai Wagner recorded his fourth of the season over the barrier in left-center and doubled the Bears' advantage.

After allowing one run in the top of the second, UNC increased its margin to 6-1, with four in the bottom of the frame. Miller delivered the big blow, launching his first hit of the season over the 416-foot sign in dead center field for a three-run blast. Zinicola tripled for the third time game in succession and crossed the plate with the sixth run on an RBI single from Caden Wagner.

The Bears added to their advantage on a run by Jackson Meier – who walked to lead off the frame. King increased the gap to 8-1 with a balk while on third.

Omaha (3-17, 1-3 Summit League) capitalized on a miscue by UNC, a walk, a hit-by-pitch and three hits to slice the deficit to 8-5.

Miller opened the home portion of the fifth being hit-by-pitch and moved to third on a one-out single by Zinicola. Caden Wagner saw seven pitches and worked a walk to load the bases with two out, setting the stage for his younger brother.

Kai Wagner blasted his first-career grand slam and busted the game open at 12-5. He inked his second multi-homer game of his career, raising his season total to five.

In the sixth, King singled up the middle for a lead-off hit and moved to second when Garret Gross reached on a hit-by-pitch. After a blooper over the third basemen's head loaded the base, Sam Pease registered an RBI on a groundout, increasing the margin to 13-2. Miller and Gross crossed the plate on a defensive miscue by the Mavericks for the final tallies of the contest.

Dylan Smith (1-5) scattered eight hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs – two earned – and struck out five.

Murphy Gienger tossed 1.1 scoreless frames, with one walk and fanning two.

Up Next
The Bears and Omaha complete the series with a doubleheader Saturday, beginning at 11:30 a.m., with the nightcap beginning 30-40 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.