RAPID CITY ? South Dakota State rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth en route to a 13-9 victory and series sweep of Northern Colorado Sunday afternoon at Fitzgerald Stadium.
The Jackrabbits, who won for the 11th time in 14 games, improved to 20-14.
UNC dropped to 10-23 despite receiving home runs from four different players.
Trailing 9-6 entering the eighth,
Craig Parry led off with a walk and advanced to second base on an error two batters later.
Tim Hanigan then chased reliever Matt Collins from the game with a base hit to left to drive in Parry.
With T.R. Keating on in relief for UNC,
Jake Rogers greeted the right-hander with a solid single to left to plate pinch-runner
Kevin Morsching.
Korby Mintken then grounded out, advancing both runners into scoring position. Despite first base being open, the Bears opted to pitch to
Tyson Fisher, who delivered a two-run single to give the Jackrabbits their first lead of the game, 10-9. For Fisher, it was his fourth hit of the game as he went 4-for-5 on the afternoon.
After
Nick Adams was intentionally walked,
Cal Lewis delivered the final blow, a mammoth three-run shot to straight-away center field. Lewis, who also hit a two-run homer in the fifth, upped his round-tripper total to 10.
Isaac Johnson earned the victory in relief, pitching a perfect eighth inning. Rapid City native
Mike Robinson was roughed up in his 3 1/3 innings of work, allowing three home runs, while striking out three and walking one as UNC led 6-3 after four innings.
Kirby Morsching and
Jacob Kougl also saw mound duty for the Jackrabbits.
Hits were even at 15. Hanigan tallied three hits, including a double for SDSU, with Rogers, and Lewis adding two each.
Zach Brockman led UNC with three hits.
The Jackrabbits return to action Wednesday at Minnesota. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. at Siebert Field in Minneapolis.
SDSU 13, Northern Colorado 9
UNC 031 201 120 9-15-4
SDSU 002 130 07x 13-15-4
UNC: Tyler Pearson, Matt Collins (5), T.R. Keating (8) and John Ray. SDSU:
Mike Robinson,
Kirby Morsching (4),
Isaac Johnson (8),
Jacob Kougl (9) and
Tony Martin.
W ? Johnson (2-0). L ? Keating (1-3).
HR: UNC ? Cory Morales (3), Kevin Sandberg (3), John Ray (5), Chad Murray (5); SDSU ?
Cal Lewis 2 (10).