BOXSCORE: at New Mexico State

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Seven runs by New Mexico State in the final three innings led the Aggies to an 11-10 extra inning come-from-behind victory over Northern Colorado in 10 frames on Sunday afternoon. The Bears held a 10-6 lead going into the ninth, but could not hold on and move to 6-11 on the season, while New Mexico State improves to 15-2.

Senior Kevin Sandberg started on the hill for the Bears after picking up the save on Friday evening. He pitched 6.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walking two and striking out five throwing 118 pitches. Freshman Nate Steinmetz took over, pitching 1.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits. Fellow freshman Joe Willman came in for the ninth inning, pitching 1.1, giving up five runs (three earned) on three hits, walking three and striking out one.

The Bears scored 10 runs on 17 hits, marking the fourth time this year the Bears have lost a game when scoring 10 or more runs. They also committed two errors in the game, both in the last two innings. New Mexico State scored 11 runs on 12 hits and tallied one error on the day to win three of four from Northern Colorado.

Offensively, junior catcher Hunter Nolen led the Bears with a 4-for-4 performance, scoring three runs and getting three RBI. Freshman Jarod Berggren went 3-for-4 on the afternoon, leading the team with four RBI. Senior Andy Mees, sophomore T.J. Berge and freshman Ty Jacobs also each contributed two hits.

T.J. Berge walked in the top of the second, moved to third on a single by Hunter Nolen and scored the first run of the game on a single through the left side by Ty Jacobs. A single up the middle by Jarod Berggren plated Nolen and Adam Hilker hit a sacrifice fly had Jacobs crossing home for a 3-0 lead. Junior Mike Raudenbush hit the first pitch through the right side for the fourth single of the inning, but he was stranded. Sandberg struck out the side in the bottom of the frame, after a single to lead off the inning.

New Mexico closed the differential to two runs in the bottom of the third with one run, making the score 3-1, but the Bears retired the Aggies in order in the fourth.

In the top of the sixth, senior Erik Hegstad extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a single to right center with Sandberg on first. A sacrifice bunt by Berge moved the runners up one bag and New Mexico State elected to intentionally walk Nolen. The Bears were called for runner interference for the double play and no runs scored.

The Aggies chipped away another run in the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back singles with two outs to make the score 3-2.

Berggren got the run back, leading off with a full-count home run to left centerfield for the 4-2 advantage. NMSU tied the score at 4-4 with a two-run shot to right field by Jeffrey Farnham, knocking Sandberg out of the game.

Sandberg stayed in the contest as the designated hitter and led off the eighth with a single through the left side. With one out Berge doubled to right center, scoring Sandberg to give the lead back to the Bears, 5-4. Nolen singled and with the high sun, the NMSU centerfielder missed a high fly from Berggren for a double and the 7-4 NC advantage.

A leadoff home run by Bryan Marquez closed the deficit back to two, 7-5 in the bottom of the eighth and a Jared Jordan hit another solo shot for the 7-6 tally.

Mees singled to lead off the ninth. With two outs, Berge singled to right center and Nolen continued his hot hand, hitting his first home run of the season - a three-run shot to center - to extend the Bears' lead four, 10-6 and give him the perfect 4-for-4 day.

New Mexico State tied the game in the bottom of the ninth on a grand slam by Marquez, his second long ball of the afternoon. The Aggies then won the game on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10^th.

Northern Colorado continues the long road trip, playing at Southern Miss on Wednesday and then beginning a three-game series at Tulane on Friday.