Bears rally for one-run victory over SDSU

GREELEY, Colo. (SDSU) — Northern Colorado rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to pull out a 10-9 victory over South Dakota State in Summit League baseball action Saturday afternoon at Jackson Field.

With the victory, the Bears improved to 11-32-1 overall and overtook the Jackrabbits for fourth place in the league standings with a 10-12-1 mark. SDSU, which dropped its fourth consecutive game, dropped to 17-24 overall and 9-12 in The Summit League.

The winning run scored by the Bears marked the only lead of the game for UNC. The Bears tied the game at 9-all on a two-run home run by Brandon Sanchez, which came after a leadoff walk to Carson Gross. After SDSU reliever Alex Clemons retired the next two hitters, Austin Bunn drew a walk, stole second and advanced to third base on an ensuing throwing error. Kai Wagner then walked to set the stage for Jake King, who lofted a fly ball to the warning track in left field that was dropped, allowing Bunn to complete the walk-off win.

SDSU touched UNC starter Murphy Gienger for three first-inning runs, starting with a leadoff home run by freshman Bryce Ronken . The Jackrabbits added runs on a sacrifice fly by Dawson Parry and an RBI double by Cade Stuff .

The Jackrabbit lead grew to 4-0 when Matthew Werk opened the second inning with his second home run of the season.

UNC tied the game with two runs in both the home half of the second and third innings. King doubled in the first tally of the second inning and added a two-run single an inning later.

Stuff, who was 4-for-5 in the contest, knocked in two runs in a three-run fourth inning as SDSU grabbed a momentary 7-4 lead, then put the Jackrabbits back in front at 8-7 with an RBI single up the middle in the eighth. In between, Northern Colorado had knotted the game at 7-all with a three-run sixth that was highlighted by RBI singles from Garrett Fisher and King.

A double by Colorado native Adam Benes in the top of the ninth pushed the SDSU lead to 9-7.

Hits were even at 12 per team, with Ronken and Cael Frost each posting a pair of hits for the Jackrabbits. King and Sanchez each notched three hits.

SDSU starter Arlen Peters lasted 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Dylan Driessen followed with 3 2/3 innings, setting a career high with seven strikeouts while giving up three runs — two earned — on three hits and four bases on balls.

Jake Carvajal was credited with the win for UNC after pitching the final 1 2/3 innings with four strikeouts.

UP NEXT
The series finale is set for noon Mountain Time (1 p.m. Central) on Sunday.

NOTES

• UNC leads the season series, 5-0
• The Jackrabbits hold a 40-33 advantage in the all-time series
• Ronken homered for the third time in his last four games and extended his hitting streak to seven games
• Stuff became the first Jackrabbit with a four-hit game this season
• Stuff’s four hits tied a career high and his four RBIs set a single-game career high

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