AUBURNDALE, Fla. - The North Dakota State baseball team pounded out a season-high 22 hits - two shy of the school record - and the Bison ended their seven-game spring break trip with a 15-2 win over Butler on Friday, March 18, in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational at Lake Myrtle Park.

North Dakota State (2-15) got all the runs it needed in the third inning when the Bison got RBI singles from Wes Satzinger and Kyle Kleinendorst, and a two-run single from Zach Heidmann.  NDSU stretched the lead to 6-1 in the fourth on an RBI double by Tim Colwell and a run-scoring single by Tyler Steen. 

Butler (7-7) got a sacrifice fly from Grant Fillipitch in the fifth to pull within 6-2, but North Dakota State broke it open with four runs in the sixth, three in the seventh and two in the eighth for the final margin.

NDSU starter Mark Hermes (1-4) pitched five innings for his first win of the year and allowed two runs on five hits with four walks and two strikeouts.  Mark Schroeder, Anthony Kliniske, Bryant Larson, Parker Trewin and Glenn Parker combined for four shutout innings of relief.

Bison infielder Zach Wentz went 4-for-6 to extend his hitting streak to 14 games, and Colwell extended his hitting streak to 10 games.  Heidmann was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored, and Blake Turbak was 3-for-5 with two RBIs.

Leadoff hitter Andrew Eckhardt was 3-for-4 to lead Butler.  Starting pitcher Jared Wagoner allowed six runs on 10 hits with two walks and three strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings and dropped to 2-2 with the loss.

North Dakota State will have nine days off before returning to action at Creighton in a single game Monday, March 28.  NDSU's two-game series March 22-23 against Minnesota was canceled due to the Metrodome roof collapse.