AUBURNDALE, Fla.--North Dakota State rallied for 10 runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat Nebraska-Omaha 12-11 in college baseball Monday, March 15, at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.

Pinch hitter Zach Heidmann had a two-run single in his first at-bat of the inning to start the scoring spree, and Heidmann's single the second time through the lineup scored Tyler Steen with the eventual winning run.

Steen was also 2-for-2 and scored two runs in the ninth inning after coming on to pinch hit with one runner on and nobody out.  Kenny Beese also scored twice as a pinch hitter with a leadoff walk and an RBI single.

The Bison (4-7), who had five hits through the first eight innings, erupted for 10 runs on nine hits during their final at-bat.  It was three runs and two hits shy of the school single-inning records.

NDSU trailed 11-2 before putting its first eight batters on base, and it was 11-7 before Zach Croonquist -- Nebraska-Omaha's third pitcher of the inning -- struck out the first man he faced.  Then the Bison got four straight run-scoring hits to go ahead.

Anthony Kliniske came on to pitch the ninth inning for North Dakota State and got his first save of the year.  Kliniske issued a leadoff walk to Tim Urban, who moved to second on Brady Hohl's sacrifice bunt before a ground out and strikeout ended it.

Josh Smith, the fourth of five NDSU pitchers, was credited with the victory after pitching a scoreless eighth inning.  Croonquist took the loss for Nebraska-Omaha (11-4).

Tyler Splichal was 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored for UNO, and Jake Benne was 3-for-3 with three RBIs.

North Dakota State has an off day Tuesday, March 16, before resuming play in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational against Long Island on Wednesday, March 17.