GARDEN CITY, Colo. (Interstat) — Northern Colorado scored four runs in the third inning and Ethan Mooser delivered the go-ahead single in the seventh to edge Air Force 5-4 on Tuesday night at Jackson Field.

The Bears improved to 12-31 overall, while the Falcons fell to 21-21. Both teams collected eight hits. The game was the third meeting between the clubs this season, with Air Force winning the previous two by scores of 10-4 and 18-6.

Air Force struck first in the top of the first inning. Kayden Bradshaw flied out, Ben Niednagel struck out looking, then Walker Zapp singled to shortstop. Zapp was caught stealing second to end the inning. The score remained 4-0 on the play-by-play listing, but no runs were actually scored in the opening frame. The Falcons’ four runs came later.

Northern Colorado starter Trevor Landen worked two scoreless innings, allowing two hits while striking out three. Mason Bright relieved in the third and allowed one run in two innings. Lucas Stone threw two shutout innings with three strikeouts, and Gus Allred pitched a scoreless seventh. Mitch Haythorn earned a save with a ninth inning that included two strikeouts.

The Bears’ big inning came in the bottom of the third against Air Force starter Joshua Holst. After Brandon Sanchez grounded out, Logan Pruski homered to left field. Jake Bullard followed with a homer to left, cutting the deficit to 4-2. Mason Griffin was hit by a pitch, stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. Wilson Kieffer walked, and Ethan Mooser reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Griffin. Mooser stole second, and after Zeke Minic walked, Brien Kenny singled to left, bringing in Mooser to tie the game at 4.

Holst was charged with three earned runs in 2 1/3 innings despite allowing no hits, according to the official stat line. He struck out four. Cranz Smelcer entered and got the final out of the third.

Air Force tied the game in the top of the fourth. Tripp Garrish homered to right center, his only hit of the night, to make it 4-4. Garrish finished 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI.

The score remained deadlocked until the bottom of the seventh. Air Faso reliever Easton Miller had retired all nine batters he faced over three innings, striking out three. Charlie Russell took over for the seventh. Mason Griffin singled, Wilson Kieffer singled, and Ethan Mooser singled to right field, scoring Griffin to give Northern Colorado a 5-4 lead. Mooser finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Air Force threatened in the top of the ninth. Garrish singled off Allred, stole second and scored on a wild pitch. Luke Elmore flied out. Garrett Hutchins struck out looking. Christian Taylor singled and stole second, then advanced to third on another wild pitch. Landon Boyd walked, and TJ Oster pinch ran and stole second. But Kayden Bradshaw struck out swinging to end the game.

Gunner Gilmore pitched a perfect eighth for Air Force, striking out two. Miller’s scoreless relief was the standout performance for the Falcons, while Landen, Stone, and Trevor Landen combined for seven shutout innings out of the Northern Colorado bullpen. Haythorn’s save came with one hit allowed and two strikeouts in the ninth.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Air Force 8, Northern Colorado 5, and its ELO system gave the Falcons a 74.80 percent probability to win.