April 12, 2008          
                                                                  
Northern Colorado Claws Yellowjackets, 19-8

     Box Score

GREELEY, Colo. – Six, first-inning runs proved to be the difference as Northern Colorado took the opening game of a three-game series with Montana State Billings Saturday afternoon at Jackson Field, 19-8. With the loss, the Yellowjackets fall to 11-25 on the year, while Northern Colorado improves to 9-22.

The Jackets opened the game with two runs in the first as Matt Schoonover tripled down the right field line scoring Nick Rupert. Moments later, Jonathan Schlender reached on an error by the first baseman and Schoonover scored for a 2-0 lead.

The Bears scored six runs on five hits and one error in the bottom of the first for a 6-2 lead and take command of the game. Yellowjacket starter Steve Scott went two-thirds of an inning, allowing six runs, three earned, five hits and three walks.

MSUB added three runs in the third for an 8-5 deficit as Schoonover belted a RBI double to right center and Tyler Nelson singled up the middle for two more RBIs.

Northern Colorado added two more runs in the bottom of the third on a pair of RBI doubles and had its second “big inning” in the fourth, scoring seven runs on three hits and there were three Yellowjacket errors to boot for a 16-5 lead.

Continuing to fight, the Yellowjackets added three runs in the fifth on a two RBI single by Cole Pryor and a sacrifice fly by Steve Larson for a 15-8 score. UNC added four more runs for the 19-8 victory.

The teams will be back in action tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.