April 28, 2008

Box Score

GREELEY, Colo. - Playing its fourth game in as many days, the Northern Colorado baseball team dropped a 10-5 decision to the BYU Cougars at Jackson Field on Monday to fall to 15-29 overall. The Cougars move to 17-26.

Northern Colorado scored five runs on nine hits and had three errors in the game, all on throwing errors, while BYU scored 10 runs on 11 hits and notched one error.

After BYU scored the first run of the game in the top of the second, the Bears answered with four of their own in the bottom half of the frame and tacked on another in the fourth for the early 5-1 advantage. Another big inning by the opponent did in NC as BYU scored five in the top of the fifth and then added one in the sixth, two in the seventh and one in the ninth for the 10-5 win.

T.R. Keating got the start on the hill (2-5) and gave up six runs (five earned) on seven hits, walking two and tying his career high (at NC) with seven strikeouts in five innings of work. Joe Sawicki threw the next two frames, giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits and striking out four. Sean Peery pitched a great eighth inning facing three batters and striking out two, while Dan Kazell threw the final inning allowing one run on one hit, walking four and striking out one.

Daniel Welch pitched the first three innings for the Cougars, giving up all five of the Bears runs on five hits, walking three and striking out three, while Justin Shutt came on in relief to pick up the win in his first decision of the year. He pitched six innings, giving up just four hits and striking out four.

With Peery's appearance in the eighth inning, he moved into a tie for second place on the school's single season appearance charts with 21, knotting Tyler Pearson (2007), Jon Lines (2006) and Tad Ritter (1988). He needs just three more games to tie the record of 24 held by Pearson.

Junior Kevin Sandberg was one of three Bears to have multiple hits on the day, nailing two doubles to bring his career total to 41, good for third all-time at Northern Colorado. Senior first baseman Chad Murray and junior right fielder Mike Raudenbush were the other two with a pair of hits.

The two teams are scheduled to square off on the diamond again tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Jackson Field.