GREELEY, Colo. – The University of North Dakota softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader against Northern Colorado on Friday afternoon.
Defensive miscues cost UND the first game, as five errors by the Fighting Hawks led to a 16-1 loss. Northern Colorado and North Dakota then got locked in a pitching battle in the nightcap, but the Bears came out on top, 2-1, in eight innings.
“It was a disappointing and rough day for us,” head coach Jordan Stevens said. “There's no excuses because UNC took it to us. We have to do a better job of dictating the game instead of letting the other team impose their will on us.”
North Dakota started off the doubleheader on the right foot, scoring one run on one hit and two errors to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning. With two outs, Kaylin VanDomelen reached on an error and advanced to scoring position off a second-consecutive error by UNC. Taylor Nadler then hit a single to left center to score VanDomelen for the lead.
However, the Fighting Hawks ended up committing five errors in the bottom of the first, which allowed Northern Colorado to score nine runs. The Bears then put up five more runs, off four hits, in the bottom of the second to take a massive 14-1 lead. UNC score two runs in the fourth before the game came to an early finish.
In the second game, North Dakota cleaned up its defense, but was unable to get any stronger offense going.
Northern Colorado took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, scoring off one hit in the frame. The Fighting Hawks responded this time in the top of the third, scoring one run on one hit and one error to knot the game up, as an RBI double by VanDomelen allowed Waynick to score for UND.
The Fighting Hawks came close to taking a lead in the sixth inning, as they got two runners on base, but couldn't bring either home.
After the first game was decided in five innings, the nightcap needed extra innings. Unfortunately, North Dakota once again got the short end of the deal. The Bears used two hits to score a walk-off run in the bottom of the eight for the doubleheader sweep.
North Dakota and Northern Colorado finish off the weekend series with game three tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. (CT).
