PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Senior right-hander John Straka went the distance and North Dakota State won its baseball season opener 4-0 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Friday, Feb. 15.

Straka needed just 96 pitches in nine innings and took sole possession of the NDSU career record with his sixth shutout, passing Mike Peschel's five from 1999-03.

Straka finished with six strikeouts and no walks.  He gave up two-out singles in the first and fifth innings and did not allow a runner past first base until a hit-by-pitch and sacrifice bunt in the seventh.

NDSU went ahead 3-0 in the second inning after three straight one-out walks to Trevor Jaunich, Michael Leach and Kirk Kenneally.  Jon Hechtner hit a two-run single and Tim Colwell followed with an RBI single.

Colwell finished 3-for-4 including a single and run scored on a bases-loaded walk to Kyle Kleinendorst in the fifth.  NDSU's Blake Turbak doubled in the first inning.