April 25, 2008

Box Score

GREELEY, Colo. - In a game where 37 runs were scored, there were 44 hits and seven errors, the Dallas Baptist Patriots (28-11) came out on top of the slugfest 22-15 over the Northern Colorado Bears (14-27) at Jackson Field.

Each team scored at least one run in each of the first five innings, making the score 14-12. No runs were scored in the next three frames, but the Patriots put eight on the board in the ninth and the Bears were able to answer with just three for the 22-15 final.

Northern Colorado scored 15 runs on 21 hits and was hindered by five errors, including four in the top of the ninth. Dallas Baptist scored 22 runs on 23 hits with two errors. The starting pitchers were both knocked out early. Junior Jordan Meaker threw 3.2 innings for the Patriots giving up eight runs on 11 hits with two walks and two strikeouts, while Bears' sophomore Joe Sawicki went 2.2 surrendering seven runs on nine hits and walked one.

DBU used four pitchers and Loveland native Wayne Dowling got the win. The Bears used six pitchers, including junior Kevin Sandberg, who threw the final 0.2 innings after not pitching in a game since his high school days.

After Sawicki, Sean Peery pitched one frame, bringing his appearances to 20 this year which ranks him in a tie for fifth-most in school history. Matt Buck pitched one innings and Matthew Dudley threw a career-high 2.1 innings, allowing no runs on no hits in nine batters faced. Dan Kazell also pitched 1.1 frames before handing the ball over to Sandberg.

Senior Chad Murray registered four hits for Northern Colorado in six at bats with three RBI and four runs scored. Sandberg and senior catcher Erik Whinery each notched three hits, while Andy Mees, Cory Morales, Erik Hegstad, Mike Raudenbush and T.J. Berge all had two hit days. Whinery led the squad with four RBI.

The two teams square off tomorrow in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. and game two will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first contest.