March 14, 2008

Cal Poly Box Score
Cal Box Score

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - On the first day of the annual Capital Classic, the University of Northern Colorado softball team battled two California schools, falling 5-0 to Cal Poly in the first game and 4-1 in extra innings to Cal, which is receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll.

In the tournament opener, Northern Colorado (6-22) and Cal Poly (10-12) were scoreless until the fifth inning when the Mustangs scored one. CPU added four in the sixth for the 5-0 final on 11 hits. Neither team committed an error.

The Bears had two hits in the contest, one by Mackenzie Barrett and one by Morgan Dahlman. Hillarie Van Otterloo (2-7) spent the first 5.2 innings in the circle, giving up all five runs and 11 hits, walking two and striking out three. Kelli Henderson came on in relief pitching the final 1.1 innings walking three and striking out three in seven batters faced.

Cal got on the scoreboard first in the second game, scoring one run in the top of the third inning, but the Bears answered with one of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Freshman Kelley Johns walked and Abby Turner came in to pinch run and was out on a fielder's choice by Van Otterloo. She moved to second on a walk by Barrett. Van Otterloo scored when Katelyn Landorf singled up the middle.

The game was scoreless until the top of the eighth inning when the Golden Bears tallied three runs on two hits and NC could not capitalize on the base runner placed on second in international rules.

Northern Colorado returns to the field tomorrow to face Ohio State and Nevada in games at 12:30 and 3:00, respectively. The close out the tournament against host Sacramento State on Sunday.