UNC softball beats Montana to advance in league tournament, keep season alive

For the third time this season, the College of Northern Colorado softball workforce took down Montana.

Regardless of going through the Huge Sky Participant of the 12 months, No. 4 UNC (23-29, 10-8 Huge Sky) beat No. 6 Montana (20-27, 6-11 Huge Sky), 6-2, on Thursday in Ogden, Utah.

The Bears placed on a full workforce effort on either side to proceed their season, beginning within the first inning.

Graduate middle fielder Riley Plogger continued to indicate off her hitting prowess, main off the sport with a single and scoring after a sacrifice bunt, wild pitch and RBI single from fellow graduate pupil Kaileigh Holland.

Holland additionally scored after her teammates introduced her throughout with a groundout, stroll and single.

Freshman third baseman Peyton Gale began the season as the most effective hitters on the workforce however has struggled as of late. That didn’t matter on Thursday. Gale went 3-of-4 with two RBI and one run scored within the victory. Her first single of the sport plated Holland and put UNC up 2-0.

Within the prime of the fourth, the Bears added two runs to increase their lead. Gale bought again on base with a leadoff single on a full depend, advancing to 3rd on two sacrifices from her teammates. The rookie from Firestone scored her one run of the sport after junior left fielder Lauren Strathearn’s RBI single.

Plogger added an RBI triple to attain Strathearn.

Montana ended the shutout within the backside half of the fourth with an RBI fielder’s selection.

UNC responded once more within the prime of the fifth when it added its closing two runs of the sport. Holland drew a stroll and was changed by graduate pinch runner Lainey Hanehan. Senior second baseman Paola Villegas was hit by a pitch to place two on.

Junior proper fielder Alyssa Wenzel singled up the center to attain Hanehan.

On the next at-bat, Gale singled as soon as once more to get Villegas residence from second.

Montana tried to return again within the seventh, including a run within the backside of the seventh. The Griz singled after which drew a stroll to place two runners on. They singled to second, and regardless of Villegas’ efforts, there wasn’t sufficient time to cease the Montana participant from scoring.

One closing strikeout, nevertheless, prolonged the season for Northern Colorado.

UNC pitching workers was led by freshmen Isabelle DiNapoli and Meghan Golden. DiNapoli was tabbed with the beginning and struck out two batters. Golden added two extra strikeouts and one stroll.

They had been comparatively managed with their pitches. Behind the plate, Holland was capable of cease some balls from getting away and advancing runners.

On the defensive aspect, a number of gamers made large catches to power an out. Freshman shortstop Jaycie Gandert has struggled this season with errors, however she logged a number of catches within the recreation, together with a backhanded one within the sixth to stop Montana from gaining momentum.

UNC completed the sport with 10 hits, one error and eight left on. Exhibiting the abilities of the Bears’ protection, Montana had eight hits, no errors and stranded eight of its personal.

Northern Colorado will proceed its quest via the losers bracket at midday Friday. It’ll play Portland State, to whom the workforce misplaced 2-1 within the common season collection.