April 29, 2008

Box Score

PROVO, Utah -- Facing a softball team like Brigham Young can be a tough task.

But when that game against the Cougars comes in the midst of a nine-game all-over-Utah road trip, the test becomes even more difficult.

And so it was for Northern Colorado on Tuesday night. The Bears came into Provo after splitting their first six games on the trip, but Brigham Young proved as tough as expected in a 9-0, five-inning victory at Gail Miller Field.

First-baseman Katelyn Landorf had the Bears' only hit in the loss.

Northern Colorado will finish its Utah swing and its 2008 season on Wednesday, April 30, when it returns to Orem, Utah, for another doubleheader against Utah Valley. The Bears and the Wolverines split two games on Monday afternoon.

BYU (37-16) entered the contest Tuesday with some gaudy offensive numbers, but the Bears (14-36), for the most part, did a good job of limiting the Cougars. BYU did most of its damage in two innings -- the second and the third -- when it scored its nine runs.

Hillarie Van Otterloo (5-13) started in the circle for the Bears, but she gave up six runs on eight hits in her 1 2/3 innings. Kelli Henderson relieved and pitched the rest of the game for Northern Colorado, but the damage was done.

Paige Affleck (10-2) started for BYU, and she struck out seven in her three innings. Christie Zinanti and Christina Trice each pitched one scoreless inning in relief.