Bison Hold Off Valparaiso for First Sweep

Saturday, May 14

Valparaiso, Ind.

12 p.m.

North Dakota State

7-38-1

Valparaiso

19-27

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
North Dakota State	0	0	0	5	3	2	0	10	10	0
Valparaiso	1	0	0	0	5	0	3	9	11	1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
North Dakota State	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	5	7	1
Valparaiso	0	0	0	1	0	3	0	4	4	0

Bison Hold Off Valparaiso for First Sweep

5/14/2005 9:45:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

VALPARAISO, Ind.--Two late rallies by Valparaiso weren't enough as North Dakota State held on for a 10-9, 5-4 doubleheader sweep of the Crusaders in college baseball Saturday, May 14.

North Dakota State swept its first of eight doubleheaders this year and improved to 8-38-1 heading into a three-game home series against Creighton next Wednesday, May 18, and Thursday, May 19, at Newman Outdoor Field.

A pair of big home runs helped NDSU to an 8-1 lead midway through the opener.

Designated hitter Reid Arnold singled home NDSU's first run in the fourth and catcher Gavin Hofer hit a grand slam three batters later to put the Bison up 5-0.

Arnold's three-run homer in the fifth put the Bison up 8-1, but Valparaiso (19-28) scored five times in the fifth to narrow the margin to 8-6. A two run single in the sixth by Bison shortstop Matt Mossey put the Herd up 10-6.

Valparaiso put runners on the corners with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh and scored three runs off closer Neil Wagner before an infield ground out ended the game with two men aboard.

Matt Freudenthal was 3-for-4 to lead the Bison attack, while Hofer and Arnold both hit 2-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored.

Starting right-hander Terry Tchida earned his first win of the year with 4 2/3 innings of work. Tchida (1-5) allowed five runs on seven hits, walked four and struck out one.

Wagner picked up his second save of the year. Valparaiso left 10 runners on base in the game.

North Dakota State struck early in the nightcap with a four-run first inning.

Tim Erickson led off with a bunt single, Charles Magedanz walked, and Kole Zimmerman hit a two-run triple one out later to put NDSU up 2-0.

A sacrifice fly off the bat of Freudenthal and an RBI double by Hofer put the Bison up 4-0.

Greg Plecki led off the top of the second with a double and Erickson followed with an RBI single for a 5-0 lead, but North Dakota State would not score again.

Valparaiso got on the board with a single run on a wild pitch in the fourth.

RBI doubles from Kevin Kutansky and Colin Reynolds in the sixth and another run on a wild pitch brought the Crusaders within 5-4.

Left-handed Bison reliever Pat Thielke recorded the final out of the sixth against left-handed hitting Jon Rupno, and Shane Bushland put Valpo down in order in the seventh for his first collegiate save.

Bison starter Jay Mitchell -- one day after lasting only two-thirds of an inning in a start and a loss -- went 5 2/3 innings to pick up his first win of the year. Mitchell (1-6) allowed four runs on four hits, walked one and struck out four.

Hofer hit 2-for-3 in the second game and Erickson was 2-for-4. With a 1-for-3 effort in the first game, Erickson has hit safely in 21 of the last 24 games.