March 16, 2008

Ohio State Box Score
Nevada Box Score

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Facing an extremely tough field at the Capital Classic, the University of Northern Colorado softball team dropped a pair of games on day two, falling 9-5 to No. 19 Ohio State (18-6) and 9-0 to Nevada (20-10) to fall to 6-24 on the season.

Ohio State scored three runs in the top of the second inning and added one in the third before the Bears answered with one run in the bottom half of the third. Senior Morgan Dahlman singled and moved to second base on a walk by Courtney Maihi. The pair advanced one base on a single by Hillarie Van Otterloo and Mackenzie Barrett singled to score Dahlman.

The Bears scored one more run in the fifth inning to close to within two, 4-2. Jessie Schoepflin walked to lead off the inning and an error on a ball put in play by Maihi moved her to third. Maihi was caught trying to steal second and Schoepflin scored.

The Buckeyes talled five runs in the sixth inning, thanks in part to two errors by the Bears, but NC did not give in, scoring three in their half of the inning. Kaylyn James singled through the right side with one out and moved to third on a double by Dahlman. Schoepflin reached first on a fielding error and then Maihi singled up the middle to score two. Jamie Juelfs grounded out to first base, but that allowed Schoepflin to score. The Bears were unable to cross any more over the plate and the final score ended 9-5.

Kelli Henderson started in the circle for the Bears, but struggled pitching just 0.2 of an inning walking three in five batters faced. Van Otterloo took over for her, throwing 4.2 innings, allowing nine runs (six earned) on 11 hits, walking only two and striking out five. Juelfs threw the final 1.2 giving up just one hit and striking out one.

In the second game of the day, the Bears fell to Nevada 9-0 in five innings. The WolfPack scored in every inning, getting two in the first, one in the second, two in the third and four in the fourth, while limiting the Bears to four hits.

Juelfs pitched the first two innings for the Bears, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and striking out one. Henderson came back to throw the final two, giving up four runs (two earned) on two hits with three walks and one strike out. Schoepflin, Van Otterloo, Barrett and Henderson each had one hit for the Bears but they were scattered throughout the game.

Northern Colorado closes out the Capital Classic in a game against host Sacramento State on Sunday monrning.