Baseball runs into Aggie roadblock, drops final game of the series

Sunday, March 21

Las Cruces, NM

Noon MT

University of Northern Colorado

4-15, 0

New Mexico State University

9-7, 0

Northern Colorado

New Mexico State

3/21/2021 3:22:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: By Thomas Hoffman, UNCBears.com

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Fighting until the final out, Northern Colorado Baseball couldn't dig themselves out of its hole Sunday, dropping the final game of the series with New Mexico State, 7-4.

Ashton Mansur earned his first start in the Blue and Gold on the bump Sunday and dialed up a solid performance.

UNC's big righty went five full innings, striking out six and walking just two batters. His only blemish came in the third inning when the Aggies pounced for three runs on four hits.

Needing a little offensive spark, the Bears turned to its do-everything player Sam Leach. With a 15-game hit streak on the line, Leach extended it to 16 with an RBI-double in the seventh frame to get UNC on the board.

Matt Burkart's red hot series in the desert also continued. Rather than his previous three solo shots, Burkart opted for a two-run homer in the eighth inning.

T8 | @matt__burkart is a certified home run getter! That's FOUR this weekend!

UNC - 3
NMSU - 7#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/rvHw9wrXSZ
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) March 21, 2021

However, one run in the sixth and three in seventh from New Mexico State meant Burkart's fourth home run of the weekend only got the Bears within four, 7-3.

Head coach Carl Iwasaki's crew wasn't going to leave Las Cruces without a fight, though.

Two walks from Sam Leach and Josh Glenn left Leach in scoring position for Ben McKay. Mckay, who tallied his second home run of the season a day ago, delivered a crucial RBI-single to cut into the Aggie lead.

Northern Colorado batters forced two pitching changes in the final inning alone before the Aggies collected the final out for the win.

Game Notes

Sam Leach extended his hit streak to 16 games.
Ashton Mansur earned his first start as a Bear, pitching five full, striking out six and giving up three.
Matt Burkart launched his fourth home run of the series.
Cooper Rust struck out the first three batters he faced.

B8 | @Coop_rusty_15 doesn't have time for that! That's his third K in as many batters!

UNC - 3
NMSU - 7#BearsStrong #WACbsb pic.twitter.com/G1kEaupbSp
— UNC Baseball (@UNC_BearsBSB) March 21, 2021

What's Ahead
Northern Colorado returns home to Jackson Field to welcome Utah Valley. The four-game series begins on Friday at 2 p.m. MT.

To stay up to date on all things UNC baseball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook and Twitter.