University of Northern Colorado Athletics

Sixth-Inning Grand Slam Sparks Rally, Bears Fall 11–8 at Utah Tech
2/27/2026 8:08:00 PM | Baseball
The Bears biggest swing of the day came in the top of the sixth inning when Ethan Fillinger launched a grand slam to left field, pulling Northern Colorado back within one run. The blast plated Easton Bryant, Logan Pruski and Zeke Minic and marked the Bears first home run of the game, accounting for four of their eight runs in the contest.
Northern Colorado struck first in the second inning, taking advantage of pressure on the bases and defensive miscues to score three runs. Bryant opened the frame with a single, and after Logan Pruski reached safely, the Bears created runs with aggressive small-ball before Fillinger drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to give UNC an early 3–0 advantage.
Offensively, the Bears were led by Fillinger, who finished with five RBI on the evening, including the grand slam and a sacrifice fly. Brett Barber turned in a strong day at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI, while Logan Pruski also collected two hits and scored twice. Easton Bryant added a pair of hits and crossed the plate two times as well.
Northern Colorado added another run in the ninth inning when Barber delivered a ground-rule double to left-center, driving in Wilson Kieffer, who had reached on a pinch-hit single and advanced into scoring position.The Bears finished with eight runs on nine hits, highlighted by the four-run sixth inning that briefly swung the momentum back in their favor.
ON DECK: The Bears will turn their attention to a doubleheader tomorrow against the Trailblazers, with first pitch for game one scheduled for 12:05 p.m. MT.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Tyler Ray (2-1)
L: Wagner, Reece (0-3)
S: Ryan Kroepel (4)

Batting:
2B: Barber, Brett 1
HR: Fillinger , Ethan 1
RBI: Barber, Brett 1 ; Fillinger , Ethan 5
SH: Griffin, Mason 1 ; Pease, Sam 1
SF: Fillinger , Ethan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bryant, Easton 2 ; Pruski, Logan 2 ; Griffin, Mason 1 ; Minic , Zeke 1 ; Fillinger , Ethan 1 ; Kieffer, Wilson 1
CS: Griffin, Mason 1

Batting:
2B: Miller Durham 1 ; Petey Soto Jr. 1
HR: Miller Durham 1 ; Ty Johnsen 1
RBI: Hudson Manwaring 2 ; Ryan Kroepel 1 ; Miller Durham 2 ; Finnegan Stewart 2 ; Ty Johnsen 2 ; Petey Soto Jr. 2
SF: Miller Durham 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hudson Manwaring 1 ; Ryan Kroepel 1 ; Miller Durham 1 ; Cooper Smith 2 ; Ty Johnsen 3 ; Gavin Long 1 ; Mays Madsen 1 ; Petey Soto Jr. 1
SB: Kyle McDaniel 1 ; Mays Madsen 1 ; Petey Soto Jr. 1
CS: Miller Durham 1
HBP: Ryan Kroepel 2 ; Gavin Long 1






















