Bison Win Series Opener at Northern Colorado, 11-4

Friday, February 24

Greeley, Colo.

3:00 PM

North Dakota State

2-2

Northern Colorado

0-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
North Dakota State	1	0	0	0	5	3	2	0	0	11	15	1
Northern Colorado	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	4	11	2

Bison Win Series Opener at Northern Colorado, 11-4

2/24/2012 11:56:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

GREELEY, Colo. - Right-hander John Straka pitched seven strong innings to lead North Dakota State to an 11-4 victory over Northern Colorado in the first of a four-game college baseball series Friday, Feb. 24, at Jackson Field.

First baseman Nick Colwell was 4-for-5 with a double and two RBIs, left fielder Nick Anderson went 4-for-5 with a triple and two runs scored, and Kirk Kenneally was 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored for the Bison (2-2).

NDSU broke open a 1-0 game with five runs in the fifth inning. Kenneally drew a leadoff walk, Anderson singled and Tyler Steen loaded the bases with a bunt single before Max Casper hit a sac fly to make it a two-run game.

Colwell and Blake Turbak bounced back-to-back two-out singles up the middle to force a pitching change, and Zach Wentz followed with a single up the middle that scored Colwell with the eventual game-winning run.

NDSU tacked on three runs in the sixth including Kenneally's leadoff homer, and the Bison got two more in the seventh on an RBI double by Kenneally and two-out single by Steen.

Straka held UNC (0-1) scoreless for the first 6 1/3 innings before giving up three extra-base hits in the seventh. He was responsible for two earned runs while scattering eight hits, striking out six and walking none.

Simon Anderson pitched a perfect eighth inning for the Bison and Trevor Jaunich faced seven batters in the ninth.

Northern Colorado starter Joe Willman allowed six runs, five earned, on seven hits with two strikeouts and one walk over 4 2/3 innings for the loss. Right fielder Adrian Schenk led the Bears with three hits.

The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday, Feb. 25, with a seven-inning game to begin at 11 a.m. MST followed by a nine-inning game. The series finale is set for 12 p.m. MST on Sunday, Feb. 26.