BROOKINGS, S.D. - Nick Altavilla homered and Kyle Kleinendorst drove in two runs to lead North Dakota State to a 3-2 win over South Dakota State in the Summit League baseball opener for both teams Friday, April 5, at Erv Huether Field.

John Straka pitched his fourth complete game of the season and improved to 5-0 with the victory.  Straka allowed two earned runs on eight hits with two walks and five strikeouts in nine innings as the Bison upped their record to 13-11 overall.

Altavilla homered in the fifth and South Dakota State (12-10) tied the game in the seventh when Aaron Machbitz hit a leadoff single and scored four batters later on Zach Coppola's sacrifice fly.

NDSU went ahead 3-1 in the eighth when John Skrbec drew a leadoff walk and Tim Colwell reached on an infield single before Kleinendorst's two-out single to center field.

SDSU narrowed the gap to 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth when Eric Danforth started the inning with a single and scored on Daniel Telford's double to left-center field, but Straka struck out Machbitz and Andrew Melton to end the threat.

The Jackrabbits got a two-out infield single from Coppola in the ninth before a ground ball back to Straka on the mound ended the game.

SDSU starter Layne Somsen (2-2) allowed five hits, three walks and struck out nine batters in eight innings.  Telford went 2-for-4 at the plate and was the only player in the game with multiple hits.

It was the 10th time in 21 regular-season Summit League meetings that NDSU and SDSU have played a one-run game.  The Bison and Jacks have played four other league games decided by two runs.

Games 2 and 3 of the four-game series are scheduled to be played as a 7-inning and 9-inning doubleheader starting at noon Saturday, April 6.