Jacks end losing skid in big way

Friday, March 28

Greeley, Colo.

2 p.m. MT

South Dakota State University

Northern Colorado

Jacks split, but win independent tourney

3/28/2008 1:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: SDSU Sports Info

GREELEY, Colo. ? Craig Parry hit for the cycle, including a grand slam, and Tony Martin added five hits as South Dakota State scored its most runs in the Division I era, pounding Northern Colorado, 24-7, Friday to end an eight-game baseball losing streak.

The Jackrabbits improved to 6-15 overall, while UNC fell in 7-18. SDSU's victory was its seventh in a row over the Bears. Due to impending inclement weather, the two squads are scheduled to conclude their three-game series with a doubleheader Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. Mountain Time (noon Central) at Jackson Field.

SDSU never trailed as it jumped out to an early lead with a six-run top of the first inning. Korby Mintken tripled in the first two runs and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Tyson Fisher. Martin, the eighth-place hitter in the lineup, later plated the final runs of the frame with a three-run inside-the-park home run to right-center field.

Tim Hanigan led off the second inning with a home run for the Jackrabbits and delivered a run-scoring single in the third inning to help make the score 9-0.

Northern Colorado got on the board with two runs in the third inning, then rallied for four runs on six hits in the fourth to chase Jackrabbit starter Caleb Thielbar from the game. Reliever Zach Weber allowed a hit to the first batter he faced, but retired the next two hitters to work out of the jam.

As a team, the Jackrabbits hit for the cycle in the seventh inning, scoring six times to make it an 18-6 ball game. Fisher led off with a home run and Billy Stitz came through with a two-run double a few batters later. Martin singled home a run and Mintken contributed his second triple of the game to score the final run of the inning.

SDSU put together its third six-run inning of the game in the ninth. Nick Adams started the scoring a two-run home run and Parry capped his cycle and the Jackrabbit scoring binge with his grand slam. Parry, who was 4-for-7 and scored three runs, singled in the first inning, tripled in the second and doubled in the seventh.

Mike Robinson allowed just one run in the 4 1/3 innings of pitching duties for the Jackrabbits to earn the save.

The Jackrabbits pounded out 29 hits in the game, 13 of which went for extra bases. Seven different players recorded two or more hits, including Martin, who was 5-for-7 with four runs batted in and four runs scored. Hanigan, Parry and Mintken all had four hits, and reserve Jesse Ayala was 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles.

Cory Morales was 4-for-5 at the plate to lead Northern Colorado, which tallied 15 hits.

Notes: SDSU's 24 runs were the most since the Jackrabbits scored 29 in a 2002 game against Minnesota-Morris ... the 24 runs allowed by UNC were the most in the Bears' program history ... Mintken upped his career triples total to a school-record 18 ... Weber earned his first victory in a Jackrabbit uniform ... 11 different Jackrabbit players recorded hits ... Fisher and Martin each homered for the second consecutive game ... SDSU scored 20 or more runs in a game for the second time this season (20 vs. Saint Louis (Mo.) on March 9

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 24, NORTHERN COLORADO 7
SDSU 612 021 606 24-29-2
UNC 002 400 001 7-15-4
SDSU: Caleb Thielbar, Zach Weber (4), Mike Robinson (5) and Tony Martin. UNC: Chris Reap, Joe Sawicki (3), Eric Skufca (7), Mike Zarlengo (9) and Erik Whinery.
W-Weber (1-0). L-Reap (2-3). SV-Robinson (1).
HR: SDSU-Nick Adams (1), Tim Hanigan (2), Tyson Fisher (3), Craig Parry (4), Tony Martin (2).