Bears Can't Match Hot Idaho State Bats

Friday, April 19

Greeley, Colo.

2 p.m. (MTN)

University of Northern Colorado

21-20, 7-3

Idaho State

22-21, 4-3

Idaho State

Northern Colorado

4/19/2024 9:30:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Staff Writer

GREELEY, Colo. – UNC had its season-best seven game winning streak snapped with a pair of Big Sky losses to Idaho State on a cold, and often snowy day at Gloria Rodriguez Field.

GAME ONE
The Bears struck first when Sabrina Javorsky sent a 3-2 pitch into right field to score Lauren Strathearn for a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

The lead was short-lived as the Bengals struck back with a heavy bat in the second, cracking three straight doubles on their way to three runs and a 3-1 advantage. ISU didn't stop there, adding a run in the 3rd to take a 4-1 lead.

UNC made a game of it with a two-out rally in the bottom of the 4th as Lenz doubled in Jaycie Gandert and Nya Chacon to cut the difference to 4-3.

ISU added an insurance run in the 6th to close out the scoring and UNC only managed to send the minimum six to the plate over their final two at bats.

UNC stranded five while the visiting Bengals left seven on the bases in the contest.

GAME TWO
UNC got on the board first again in the nightcap via Aimalee Morales' Big Sky best 10th home run in the bottom of the first.

The Bengals tacked on a pair of runs in the third to take a 2-1 lead before the two squads erupted for a total of 11 combined runs in the fourth. UNC's four scores came on three hits with two left on base while less-than-stellar play in the field contributed to ISU's onslaught of seven runs in the fourth with three errors in the frame.

UNC managed just two more runs the rest of the way while ISU added three in the fifth and eight in the seventh when the game was already out of reach.

BY THE NUMBERS

Nya Chacon tallied three hits ,scored two runs and knocked in four on the day.
Chacon's four RBIs in game two were her second most in a game this season.
Quinn Myers - Lenz went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a pair of walks.
The losses by the Bears, combined with Weber State's wins over Sac State, leave the squads tied at the top of the league with identical 7-4 records. ISU and Portland State are on their heels with 5-3 records.

UP NEXT
UNC looks to salvage the series with game three tomorrow, Saturday, April 20th at noon. The Senior Day contest will be the last regular-season appearance at Gloria Rodriguez Field for six Bears: Erin Caviness, Jayden Gandert, Kate Rehberg, Alison Steinker, Lauren Strathearn and Alyssa Wenzel. Admission is free.