SDSU loses pair to Northern Colorado

Saturday, March 10

Greeley, Colo.

1 p.m.

South Dakota State University

2-12

Northern Colorado

8-5

South Dakota State

Northern Colorado

Photo by: Inertia Sports Media/Dave Eggen

3/10/2018 7:46:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado scored two times in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull out a 5-4 victory in the opening game of a college baseball doubleheader and carried the momentum into Game 2 for an 8-2 win over South Dakota State Saturday afternoon at Jackson Field.

In earning the sweep, UNC improved to 9-5 overall. SDSU dropped to 2-13 on the season.

Game 1: Northern Colorado 5, SDSU 4
In a seven-inning game, the Bears' Austin Miller drew a walk with the bases loaded to force in the eventual winning run. Jack Pauley started the game-winning rally with a base hit, moved to third on an error and scored the tying run on a groundout.

Tyler Yamaguchi followed with a base hit and advanced to third on back-to-back walks issued to Jake Garcia and Dean Lawson by Jackrabbit starter Tyler Olmstead. Miller's walk came against freshman reliever Bret Barnett.

SDSU built a 3-0 lead, taking advantage of two UNC errors to score a run in the second inning before tacking on two more runs in the fourth. The Jackrabbits strung together four consecutive singles, the last two of which were by outfielders Logan Holtz and Phil Velez to drive in runs.

Northern Colorado responded with three runs in the home half of the fourth to tie the game at 3-all. Yamaguchi plated the first two runs with a single to left-center field and later scored on a base hit by Garcia.

The Jackrabbits regained the lead in the top of the sixth as Ian Cote delivered a double that scored Holtz, who was the lone SDSU player with two hits. The Jackrabbits out-hit UNC, 7-6.

A sophomore from Sioux Falls, Olmstead suffered his first collegiate loss after winning his first three decisions over two seasons. He struck out seven and walked three while surrendering five runs on six hits.

UNC starter Keenan Lum struck out seven and walked four over five innings. Connor Leedholm earned the save after fanning the side in order in the top of the seventh.

Game 2: Northern Colorado 8, SDSU 2
Northern Colorado scored in each of its last six innings of batting to complete the doubleheader sweep with an 8-2 victory.

SDSU tallied the first run of the game in the top of the second as Josh Falk hit a leadoff double and scored on a groundout off the bat of Tony Kjolsing.

From there it was all UNC as the Bears scored single runs in the third and fourth innings, followed by two-run frames in the fifth and sixth innings. The Bears added runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Cole Maltese and Baxter Halligan each posted two hits and a run batted in, while Miller contributed a pair of runs batted in.

The Jackrabbits' other run came in the top of the ninth on a double by Skyler Wenninger that brought home Newt Johnson. Wenninger and Falk each accounted for two of SDSU's five hits.

SDSU starter Brady Moxham pitched seven innings, striking out six and walking only one despite giving up seven runs – five earned – on seven hits. Bryce Hanson made his season debut and allowed an unearned run in the eighth as he walked two and struck out a pair.

UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits will attempt to salvage the final game of the four-game series Sunday afternoon. The series finale is set for noon Mountain Time (1 p.m. Central).

-GoJacks.com-