Bats Stay Hot as Bears Battle to the Finish in Series Opener

Friday, April 11

Greeley, Colo.

2 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

10-22, 0

Oral Roberts

19-12, 0

Oral Roberts

Northern Colorado

Photo by: Sophia Valencia, UNC Athletics

4/11/2025 5:55:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Northern Colorado launches two home runs and scores late but comes up just short against Oral Roberts, 9-5

By: Brooke Richards, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado saw a late lead slip away on Friday afternoon, falling 9-5 to Oral Roberts in the series opener at Jackson Field.

The Bears (10-22) held a 3-2 advantage heading into the eighth inning, but a six-run frame by the Golden Eagles (19-12) flipped the game on its head and proved to be the difference.

Jake Bullard tied the game in the third with a solo shot to left center, and James Wright added a go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth to give UNC a 3-1 edge. The Bears got a strong outing from starter Murphy Gienger, who went seven full innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits while striking out four.

After cutting the deficit to one in the seventh with a sacrifice fly, Oral Roberts erupted for six runs in the eighth. The rally began with a hit batter and ended with a RBI single from Makani Tanaka, giving the visitors an 8-3 lead. ORU added another insurance run in the ninth on a solo shot from Owen Coil, his second extra-base hit of the day.

Brady Hudson was tagged with the loss after a tough outing in relief, surrendering four runs on just two-thirds of an inning.

Northern Colorado attempted a rally in the ninth, plating two runs on RBI singles from Jake King and Craig Kenny, but the deficit proved too much to overcome. King led the Bears with a pair of hits and an RBI, while Wright added 2 RBI off one hit.

Up Next
UNC and ORU continue the series Saturday afternoon at Jackson Field with first pitch set for 12 p.m.

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