Baseball leaves Greeley with three more wins
The Buffs went into Greeley last Saturday and Sunday and swept the Bears of the University of Northern Colorado in a three-game set.
Matt DeGraaf threw a six-inning, one-run performance Saturday to give the Buffs a 5-3 victory.
DeGraaf improved to 4-0 with the victory, and keeps his ERA under .80 after 30 total innings pitched.
“I just go out there and throw my stuff,” DeGraaf said. “Our bats will give us victories if I do my part.”
Offensively, the Buffs jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead by the end of the second inning, and were never in any real danger of losing the lead.
“We did all our parts to earn that victory,” captain Joey Fulcher said after the game.
Pat Comly, the veteran pitcher on the staff, struggled with his control in the second game.
Comly allowed five walks in his four innings of work on Sunday against the Bears.
“I struggled with my motion today, and started aiming the ball,” Comly said.
The Bears led 5-1 after five innings.
In the top of the sixth, the Buffs stole two runs back to bring the game to within two runs going into the final inning.
“We needed our guys to get on base, and they did just that,” Fulcher said. “Doug Austin went 4-4 today and really helped us get some run back.”
Austin had only played four of 10 games before playing the weekend series against the Bears.
In the top of the final inning, the Buffs loaded the bases for outfielder Chad Petersen, who cleared the fence with a game changing grand slam.
“I just got the head of the bat on the ball,” Petersen said. “I am happy I helped the team out today.”
Relief pitcher Brendon Marek closed out in the game in the bottom of the inning, and the Buffs won in come back fashion 7-5.
“Our team showed a lot of heart in this win,” Fulcher said.
Aaron Douglass also struggled with his control Sunday afternoon in the third game, giving up four runs in four innings.
Douglass gave up a first-inning home run and walked three batters in the game.
Fulcher said the Buffs were hitting well throughout the game, but the Bears’ defense were making plays.
In the top of the fifth, Fulcher blasted a solo shot to inch the Buffs closer. The Buffs were 4-2 after the top half of the fifth.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Bears added a run and to advance to a 5-2 lead, leaving only six outs left for the Buffs.
The Buffs only managed a run in the sixth, and in the last inning, they were down by two runs.
But another comeback by the Buffs was set into motion.
Matt Fithian started out the inning with a walk on six pitches, and Nick Saraceni followed with a hit.
Then, with two men on and nobody out, the Bears’ defense finally hit a snag. Austin layed down a bunt, and put the two runners into scoring position.
However, the Bears threw the ball away and two runs scored.
With Austin on second after the error, he was brought in for the go-ahead run on a Matt Nippes single.
After Marek closed the game out, the Buffs earned a 6-5 victory and a sweep of the Bears.
“We are playing very well right now,” Fulcher said. “We don’t want to let up.”
The Buffs face the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs this weekend. The Buffs are undefeated against them.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Brent New at brent.new@colorado.edu.
