BOXSCORE: at Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. - Another late opponent late comeback broke the hearts of Northern Colorado baseball fans on Tuesday afternoon as the Bears fell 14-13 to the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Bears held a 13-9 advantage, but the Huskers scored five in the seventh and eighth innings for the victory. NC is now 7-15 on the year, while NU is 15-7-1.

Senior Kevin Sandberg, senior Erik Hegstad and junior Hunter Nolen each tallied two hits for the Bears as the team scored 13 runs on nine hits. Four different Bears were hit by pitches and they drew 10 base on balls as a club. Nebraska scored its 14 runs on 16 hits and committed two errors.

The Bears played error free baseball for the third time in the last four games after eight games earlier this year with three or more mistakes.

James Quisenberry got the second start of his career on the hill, throwing six innings for the Bears. He allowed nine runs on 12 hits, walking three and striking out three. Forbes Scott pitched the next 1.2 innings giving up three runs on two hits and walked two.  Freshman Joe Willman threw the final 0.1 inning surrendering two runs on two hits with one walk. He takes the loss, bringing his season record to 1-2.

"We had a lot of chances against their starter, but didn't take full advantage," said Head Coach Kevin Smallcomb. "I thought we hit the ball well through the middle of the game and I was really happy how we reacted after Nebraska scored six to make it 10-9. We turned right back around and scored three more; we keep playing hard and these close games are going to start going our way."

In the bottom of the first, Nebraska scored three runs on four hits but Quisenberry picked off Nick Sullivan on third base for the final out.

The Bears got one back in the top of the second on no hits. Hunter Nolen, Phil Santucci and Tyler Borzileri were all hit by pitches and Adam Hilker drew a walk. In the first two frames, four Bears were hit and two walked, but NC was only able to get one run out of the situation.

Kevin Sandberg walked to lead off the third inning, moved to third on a fielding error on a fly ball by Erik Hegstad and scored on a T.J. Berge ground out.

Sandberg got the team's first hit with a double down the left field line to lead off the fifth inning. A single by Hegstad with an error by the Nebraska third baseman put runners on second and third with no outs. Nolen, the Bears with the hot hand lately, came through again, this time with a double to left centerfield to score two runs. Berge singled to right field, scoring Nolen to give the Bears a 5-3 lead.

In the sixth inning, Sandberg again got things started as he walked with one out. Hegstad singled to center and the pair advanced one base on a wild pitch. Nebraska chose to intentionally walk Nolen, which was immediately followed by a walk by Berge for the first run of the frame. Santucci then hit his first career home run - and did so in grand fashion - putting the Bears on top 10-3.

Nebraska got six back in the bottom of the sixth, thanks in part to a grand slam of its own off the bat of Tyler Farst.

Mike Raudenbush walked to start the seventh, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a single up the middle by Andy Mees. Sandberg then blasted his 10^th home run of the season giving the Bears a four-run advantage, 13-9.

Nebraska scored one in the seventh and four in the eighth to regain the lead, 14-13. DJ Belfonte tripled with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to score two and was tagged out at home to prevent any more Husker runs in the inning.

The Huskers and Bears take the field again tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 12:35 p.m. Mountain, 1:35 p.m. Central. Northern Colorado then returns home to host Houston Baptist in a four-game series beginning on Friday at 2:00 p.m.