University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, May 4
Greeley, Colo.
12 p.m.
University of Northern Colorado
11-32-1, 10-12-1
10
vs
9
South Dakota State
17-24, 9-12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
South Dakota State
3
1
0
3
0
0
0
1
1
9
12
4
Northern Colorado
0
2
2
0
0
3
0
0
3
10
12
3
Bears Walk-Off Jackrabbits With 1974 CWS Team in the Stands
5/4/2024 10:15:00 PM | Baseball
GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado never led until the last batter of Saturday's game against South Dakota State at Jackson Field.
Jake King stepped into the batter's box with Northern Colorado's 1974 team in the stands, two in scoring position and two outs in the bottom of the ninth of a 9-9 contest. He lifted the 3-2 offering to left field and the teams appeared headed for extra innings as the Jackrabbits left fielder drifted back to the warning track and settled under the fly ball.
The ball bounded off the defender's glove and fell harmlessly to the dirt, allowing Austin Bunn to score from third, as the first base dugout full of Bears emptied onto the field to mob King between first and second.
In a pregame ceremony, the Bears honored the 1974 team for their memorable season that ended in Omaha, Nebraska, at the College World Series. Several weeks before the 50th anniversary of Northern Colorado's trip to Omaha, the current group of Bears overcame three deficits Saturday on the same field.
UNC won the three-game series against Gonzaga May 24-25, 1974, in the NCAA District 7 semifinals, before claiming 6-5 and 6-1 victories over Arizona – the number one team in the nation – May 31 and June 1.
Looking to qualify for the Summit League Championship with seven games remaining, the current Bears battled back from deficits of 4-0, 7-4 and 9-7. UNC moved into fourth place in the standings, the final position to make the championship.
South Dakota State (17-24, 9-12 Summit League) jumped out to a 4-0 advantage with three runs in the first and another in the second.
Kai Wagner opened the second with a double to right center and King traded places with a two-bagger to left center. He moved to third on an infield hit by Carson Gross and scored on a wild pitch.
King knotted the score at 4-4 with a two-RBI single in the next frame.
The Jackrabbits capitalized on a pair of errors and moved out to a 7-4 cushion in the top of the fifth.
Garret Fisher and King delivered RBI singles in the home half of the sixth and Craig Kenny worked a four-pitch walk, with the bases loaded to even the contest at 7-all.
South Dakota State recorded solo tallies in the eighth and ninth frames. With one on and no outs in the bottom of the eighth, the Jackrabbits went to the bullpen and called on their closer to get the final six outs. He retired the next three batters, stranding the tying run on base.
In the ninth, Gross led off with a four-pitch walk and scored when Brandon Sanchez knotted the game, with a two-run home run – the fourth of his rookie campaign. Following a pair of groundouts, Austin Bunn walked, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Kai Wagner worked a walk and moved to second on defensive indifference, setting the stage for King.
Team and Series Notes
UNC improved to 23-25 in the all-time series, including 5-0 this season.
The Bears won seven of the last 10 games.
UNC won 9-of-15 against the Jackrabbits since joining the Summit League.
The Bears scored at least 10 runs in each game, outscoring South Dakota State 87-40 this season.
Inside the Box
Gross went 1-for-5, with a walk and a run scored.
Sanchez finished a triple shy of a cycle in five plate appearances, with two runs and two RBIs.
Caden Wagner went 2-for-6.
Fisher reached on a hit and two walks in six plate appearances, with a run and an RBI.
Bunn scored three runs.
Kai Wagner delivered a double and single in four at-bats, scoring two runs and two base-on-balls.
King went 3-for-6, with a double, four RBIs and scored one.
Mason Bright worked 3.2 innings out of the bullpen, allowing one run and four hits, striking out seven.
The freshman from Severance set season highs with seven strikeouts and 3.2 innings pitched.
Jake Carvajal improved to 2-0, earning the win, allowing one run, two hits, one walk and four strikeouts in 1.2 innings.
Up Next
The Bears go for the series sweep Sunday at noon, with a pregame ceremony to honor the nine seniors at 11:40.
Jake King stepped into the batter's box with Northern Colorado's 1974 team in the stands, two in scoring position and two outs in the bottom of the ninth of a 9-9 contest. He lifted the 3-2 offering to left field and the teams appeared headed for extra innings as the Jackrabbits left fielder drifted back to the warning track and settled under the fly ball.
The ball bounded off the defender's glove and fell harmlessly to the dirt, allowing Austin Bunn to score from third, as the first base dugout full of Bears emptied onto the field to mob King between first and second.
In a pregame ceremony, the Bears honored the 1974 team for their memorable season that ended in Omaha, Nebraska, at the College World Series. Several weeks before the 50th anniversary of Northern Colorado's trip to Omaha, the current group of Bears overcame three deficits Saturday on the same field.
UNC won the three-game series against Gonzaga May 24-25, 1974, in the NCAA District 7 semifinals, before claiming 6-5 and 6-1 victories over Arizona – the number one team in the nation – May 31 and June 1.
Looking to qualify for the Summit League Championship with seven games remaining, the current Bears battled back from deficits of 4-0, 7-4 and 9-7. UNC moved into fourth place in the standings, the final position to make the championship.
South Dakota State (17-24, 9-12 Summit League) jumped out to a 4-0 advantage with three runs in the first and another in the second.
Kai Wagner opened the second with a double to right center and King traded places with a two-bagger to left center. He moved to third on an infield hit by Carson Gross and scored on a wild pitch.
King knotted the score at 4-4 with a two-RBI single in the next frame.
The Jackrabbits capitalized on a pair of errors and moved out to a 7-4 cushion in the top of the fifth.
Garret Fisher and King delivered RBI singles in the home half of the sixth and Craig Kenny worked a four-pitch walk, with the bases loaded to even the contest at 7-all.
South Dakota State recorded solo tallies in the eighth and ninth frames. With one on and no outs in the bottom of the eighth, the Jackrabbits went to the bullpen and called on their closer to get the final six outs. He retired the next three batters, stranding the tying run on base.
In the ninth, Gross led off with a four-pitch walk and scored when Brandon Sanchez knotted the game, with a two-run home run – the fourth of his rookie campaign. Following a pair of groundouts, Austin Bunn walked, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Kai Wagner worked a walk and moved to second on defensive indifference, setting the stage for King.
Team and Series Notes
UNC improved to 23-25 in the all-time series, including 5-0 this season.
The Bears won seven of the last 10 games.
UNC won 9-of-15 against the Jackrabbits since joining the Summit League.
The Bears scored at least 10 runs in each game, outscoring South Dakota State 87-40 this season.
Inside the Box
Gross went 1-for-5, with a walk and a run scored.
Sanchez finished a triple shy of a cycle in five plate appearances, with two runs and two RBIs.
Caden Wagner went 2-for-6.
Fisher reached on a hit and two walks in six plate appearances, with a run and an RBI.
Bunn scored three runs.
Kai Wagner delivered a double and single in four at-bats, scoring two runs and two base-on-balls.
King went 3-for-6, with a double, four RBIs and scored one.
Mason Bright worked 3.2 innings out of the bullpen, allowing one run and four hits, striking out seven.
The freshman from Severance set season highs with seven strikeouts and 3.2 innings pitched.
Jake Carvajal improved to 2-0, earning the win, allowing one run, two hits, one walk and four strikeouts in 1.2 innings.
Up Next
The Bears go for the series sweep Sunday at noon, with a pregame ceremony to honor the nine seniors at 11:40.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Carvajal, Jake (2-0)
L: Clemons (4-3)
Batting:
2B: Ronken 1 ; Frost 2 ; Stuff 2
HR: Ronken 1 ; Werk 1
RBI: Ronken 2 ; Parry 1 ; Stuff 4 ; Werk 1
SF: Parry 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ronken 1 ; Kozal 2 ; Bellows 1 ; Frost 2 ; Werk 3
SB: Werk 1
HBP: Frost 1 ; Werk 1
Batting:
2B: Sanchez, Brandon 1 ; Wagner, Kai 1 ; King, Jake 1
HR: Sanchez, Brandon 1
RBI: Sanchez, Brandon 2 ; Fisher, Garrett 1 ; King, Jake 4 ; Kenny, Craig 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gross, Carson 1 ; Sanchez, Brandon 2 ; Fisher, Garrett 1 ; Bunn, Austin 3 ; Wagner, Kai 2 ; King, Jake 1
SB: Sanchez, Brandon 2 ; Bunn, Austin 1 ; King, Jake 1
HBP: Sanchez, Brandon 1 ; Bunn, Austin 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
2
AB
6
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
C
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/ BaseballINF
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