BOXSCORE: at Air Force

USAFA, Colo. - A pair of big innings led the Northern Colorado baseball team to a 12-10 victory at the Air Force Academy on Tuesday afternoon. The Bears scored four in the second and six in the sixth en route to the victory. NC improves to 9-17 on the year, while the Falcons fall to 10-20.

Junior catcher Seth Budde was perfect offensively, going 5-for-5 on the afternoon with four RBI with two doubles. Senior Andy Mees went 4-for-5 from the plate on the day, hitting his eighth home run of the year. Senior Erik Hegstad also had multiple hits, going 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Senior Kevin Sandberg tallied one hit in the game, a double, giving him the Northern Colorado career doubles record with 48, breaking the old record of 47 by Chris Kirgan (1992-94).

Junior James Quisenberry pitched the first 4.2 innings for the Bears, surrendering nine runs (eight earned) on 12 hits, walking two and striking out three. Junior Forbes Scott threw the next 3.1 frames, allowing just one run on two hits, walking one and he also fanned three to even his season record at 1-1. Sandberg was on the mound for the final inning, getting his second save by striking out two.

"We did a much better job of staying focused after giving up the lead in the fifth," said Head Coach Kevin Smallcomb. "Forbes Scott did a nice job today, working the middle innings for just one run. The whole team did a nice job of hitting with runners on and finishing innings, something we've been working on for a while now."

Northern Colorado scored 12 runs on 17 hits and committed one error, while Air Force scored 10 runs on 12 hits and also had one error in the game.

Matt Barattino, who pitched just 0.1 innings is credited with the loss for Air Force. In five batters faced, he gave up three runs on four hits. Evan Abrecht started on the hill, allowing seven runs on 11 hits, striking out just one.

Northern Colorado tallied the first runs of the game, scoring four in the top of the second inning. With two outs and sophomore T.J. Berge on first base, senior Phil Santucci, Jarod Berggren and Adam Hilker all scored for two runs. Junior Mike Raudenbush then doubled and Mees hit a single to second base for a 4-0 lead.

The Falcons scored an unearned run on two hits with one Bears error in the bottom half of the inning for a 4-1 score.

Senior Erik Hegstad doubled to start off the third inning and scored when junior Seth Budde doubled down the left field line to get the run back.

Air Force scored three in the second half of the third frame to close within one, 5-4 after tallying four hits including a leadoff home run by Matt Alexander.

The score remained 5-4 until the bottom of the fifth inning when the Falcons put five on the board for a 9-5 lead. They had five hits, including another home run by Alexander, this one a two-run shot.

The Bears hung a crooked number of their own in the sixth, scoring six to regain the lead at 11-9. Santucci singled to lead off and Berggren was hit by a pitch. Both advanced a base on a wild pitch and Hilker walked to load the bases. Raudenbush hit a sacrifice fly to right for the first run of the inning and Mees hit a three-run home run to right field. Sandberg kept things going with a double to right center, Hegstad singled to left and Budde doubled to left center for the half-dozen runs.

Both teams were retired in order in the seventh inning and the Bears tacked on one more in the top of the eighth. Mees doubled down the right field line, moved to third on an error by the third baseman on a ball off the bat of Hegstad and scored on a single to right center by Budde to give the Bears a 12-9 advantage.

Air Force answered with a leadoff home run by Ben Ausbun, but Scott retired the next three batters to keep the lead at two, 12-10. Neither team scored in the ninth, evening the season series at 1-1 with two games remaining this year.

Northern Colorado begins a four-game series at Houston Baptist on Thursday. The first game is scheduled for 2:30 (Central) in Houston.