BOXSCORE: at New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Northern Colorado baseball team put up back-to-back big innings in the third and fourth innings to take the 8-6 advantage, but were unable to hold the lead, falling 10-8 in the finale of a four-game series at New Mexico. The Bears even their season record at 4-4, while the Lobos improve to 8-2.

Senior captain Kevin Sandberg (1-1) started the first-ever game of his career on the hill in his second appearance of the season, throwing four innings. He allowed nine runs (eight earned) on 12 hits, striking out a pair and walking two. Freshman Cameron Tallman came on in relief, surrendering just one run on three hits in 3.1 innings of work. He also walked four. James Quisenberry and Forbes Scott also threw 0.1 of an inning.

Sandberg also hit for himself, with his lone hit being a three-run homerun to left field in the top of the third inning to knot the score at 3-3 after New Mexico had scored one in the first and two in the second. He ended the day with four RBI to lead both teams. The Lobos added three runs in the third to regain the lead at 6-3 before the Bears tallied five in the fourth for an 8-6 score.

In that fourth frame, sophomore T.J. Berge led off with a double down the left field line, senior Phil Santucci was hit by a pitch and freshman Adam Hilker singled through the left side to score Berge. Junior Mike Raudenbush and Jarod Berggren each reached safely on a hit by pitch and walk, respectively. New Mexico changed pitchers, going to R. Jamarillo. After one out was recorded, Sandberg reached on an error, Erik Hegstad singled to right and Seth Budde hit a sacrifice fly to right field to give the Bears five runs.

New Mexico again had an answer, scoring one in the fourth and two in the fifth for a 9-8 advantage and they tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth for the 10-8 final tally.

The Bears scored their eight runs on eight hits and committed one error, while the Lobos scored 10 runs on 15 hits and notched two errors.

Hegstad and Hilker both had multiple hits in the contest with two each, while Hilker scored a pair of runs.

The Bears continue their eight-game road trip at Utah Valley on Thursday at 6:00 p.m.