COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--North Dakota State's bullpen blew a three-run lead in the late innings as Air Force rallied for a 16-14 win over the Bison in college baseball Sunday, Feb. 20, at the Air Force Academy.

In a game that took 3 hours, 58 minutes to play, North Dakota State (0-4) grabbed its first lead of the weekend with a three-run sixth inning that put the Bison up 14-11.  The margin would not last.

NDSU reliever Tom Branca got one out in the seventh before giving up a double and three straight walks to score a run.  Then Air Force right fielder Matt Ghigna knocked in a second run off reliever Shane Bushland to cut the lead to 14-13.

The Falcons scored three more in the bottom of the eighth, stringing together a leadoff single, an RBI triple and an RBI double to start the rally.

Air Force reliever Sam Rosener completed his second inning of work by setting down the Bison 1-2-3 in the ninth for the win.

NDSU sent six pitchers to the mound in the game.  Starter Jake Laber lasted only an inning and two-thirds, allowing six runs on three hits while walking five and striking out two.

Starting center fielder Greg Plecki, who came in to begin the rocky eighth inning, took the loss.

Bison shortstop Matt Mossey, designated hitter Jared Sullivan and first baseman Reid Arnold each had two hits for North Dakota State, and Charles Magedanz finished 3-for-6 with three runs and two RBIs.

Catcher Kole Zimmerman singled in the sixth inning to extend his season hitting streak to four games and his overall hitting streak to eight games.

North Dakota State is scheduled to play a four-game series at Sacramento State beginning Thursday, Feb. 24.