BOXSCORE: at Southern Miss

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Northern Colorado baseball team snapped a three-game losing streak with an 8-7 victory at Southern Miss on Wednesday evening, improving to 7-11 on the season. The Golden Eagles, who have advanced to six straight NCAA Regionals, move to 12-6 with the loss.

"We found a way to win tonight," said Head Coach Kevin Smallcomb. "We executed pitches and were attacking the strike zone the entire game. We also made all the plays at the end when it mattered."

James Quisenberry, in his first start for Northern Colorado, pitched 5.2 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on 11 hits, walking just one and striking out three earning his second victory. Junior transfer Forbes Scott pitched the next two frames, allowing no runs on no hits and struck out two in seven batters faced. He has now stranded 10 of the 13 runners he has inherited this season.

Freshman left-hander Nate Steinmetz struck out the only batter he faced and fellow freshman Joe Willman threw the ninth inning, giving up one run on two hits but earned his second save of the year.

The Bears pitching staff walked just one batter in the game, a season low. They allowed seven runs on 13 hits, while the defense behind them committed two errors. Northern Colorado scored eight runs on eight hits with one Southern Miss error.

"Quisenberry pitched well, Forbes Scott came in and did a great job and both Nate Steinmetz and Joe Willman did their jobs," said Smallcomb. "Walking just one - we really executed our pitches and were in front of the hitters all day long."

Junior catcher Hunter Nolen continued his hot bat, leading the team with a 3-for-4 performance from the plate. He is now 8-for-10 in the last three games. Senior Kevin Sandberg also had multiple hits going 2-for-5 with his eighth home run of the year.

Seth Hester, the third pitcher of the day for Southern Miss, took the loss for an 0-1 record this year. He was one of five hurlers used for the Golden Eagles and went 0.2 innings, allowing three runs on one hit, walking two and fanning one.

"Jarod Berggren got us on the right track," continued Smallcomb. "In the third inning, both Raudenbush and Mees were very patient at the plate to get walks and then Sandberg had a very patient at bat and it paid off with the home run. Defensively, we got charged for two errors, but they were both tough plays."

A three-run home run by Golden Eagles centerfielder Bo Davis gave USM the early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

In the top of the second, senior Erik Hegstad extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single. He moved to second on a balk and scored on a double by Nolen. A sacrifice bunt by sophomore T.J. Berge moved Nolen to third and he added the Bears' second run on a groundout by Tony Crudo for the 3-2 tally.

With one out in the third, junior Mike Raudenbush walked on four straight pitches and senior Andy Mees followed with his second straight walk. Sandberg singled down the right field line to load the bases. After USM pitcher Moses Munoz battled back to strike out Hegstad, Nolen singled to left field. Raudenbush crossed the plate to tie the score at 3-3 and Mees was thrown out at home trying to give the Bears their first lead.

Southern Miss answered immediately, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded and two outs and one run in, Josh Fields singled up the middle for the USM lead but the Bears tagged out Corey Stevens trying to score from second, as freshman Adam Hilker at shortstop threw to Nolen at home for the third out and a saved run.

Berge walked to lead off the fourth and with one out, Jarod Berggren knotted the score at 5-5 with a home run to left field and knocked out USM starting pitcher Munoz and Seth Hester came on in relief. Raudenbush and Mees both walked for the second straight plate appearances and Sandberg made them pay, hitting his eighth home run of the year and gave the Bears an 8-5 advantage. Quisenberry then retired the side in order, getting two fly outs and a strike out.

The Bears were able to load the bases in the fifth frame, but no runs scored and Southern Miss was able to chip into the lead, scoring one in the bottom half for an 8-6 score. In the bottom of the sixth with two outs, Forbes Scott came in for the starting pitcher Quisenberry and got a strike out to strand runners on first and second and preserve the lead.

Neither team scored in the sixth, seventh or eighth innings and Southern Miss added one in the bottom of the ninth, but it was not enough as the Bears won their seventh game of the year, 8-7.

Northern Colorado now heads to New Orleans to start a three-game series with Tulane on Friday evening. The Bears then head to Lincoln, Nebraska for a two-game set with the Huskers on Tues. and Wed.