Laber, Bison Hold Off South Dakota State, 5-4

Saturday, May 17

Fargo, N.D.

1 p.m.

North Dakota State

15-30, 7-16

South Dakota State

22-27, 9-11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
South Dakota State	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	4	5	0
North Dakota State	0	0	1	0	0	3	0	1	X	5	7	2

Laber, Bison Hold Off South Dakota State, 5-4

5/17/2008 10:22:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

FARGO, N.D.--Senior left-hander Jake Laber pitched a complete game and matched a season-high with nine strikeouts to lead North Dakota State to a 5-4 win over South Dakota State in Summit League baseball Saturday, May 17, at Newman Outdoor Field.

North Dakota State won three out of four games at home against South Dakota State for the third straight year. NDSU finished the season 15-30 overall and 7-16 for eighth place in The Summit League. SDSU ended the year 22-27 overall and 9-11 in the league.

Laber (3-5) had to pitch out of an early hole after Korby Mintken hit the first pitch of the game over the right-field wall for a 1-0 SDSU lead. It was Mintken's eighth homer of the year.

After a dropped pop fly led to an unearned South Dakota State run in the third, Laber retired the next 12 straight batters to keep the Bison within striking distance.

It was 2-1 when North Dakota State loaded the bases in the sixth with three straight walks against SDSU starter Caleb Thielbar (5-4). Sebastian Miles drove in two runs with a single through the right side, and Eric Nutzhorn followed with another RBI single into left field that gave NDSU a 4-2 edge.

The Bison scored the eventual game-winning run in the eighth. Kole Zimmerman led off with a hard-hit single past third baseman Craig Parry, moved to third on a Miles bunt and Nutzhorn ground out, and scored on a balk by SDSU reliever Matt Baerlocher, who stopped his motion while coming to the set position.

The extra run was important. SDSU catcher Tony Martin led off the top of the ninth with a single into left field, and scored two outs later on Billy Stitz's two-run homer to right-center. It was his ninth homer of the year.

A walk to Jesse Ayala kept the Jacks alive before Nick Adams popped up to a sliding Kyle Harrison in shallow center field to end the game.

Miles finished 2-for-3 for the Bison, and Nutzhorn was 2-for-4 as the only other NDSU player with multiple hits. Stitz was 2-for-4 and Martin 2-for-3.