FARGO, N.D. - Nick Altavilla drove in two runs and Kyle Kingsley struck out four of the seven batters he faced for his fifth save of the year in North Dakota State's 7-6 college baseball victory over Winnipeg at Newman Outdoor Field on Tuesday, April 30.

It was the latest home opener on record at NDSU, which lost its first seven home dates to weather and field conditions.  The Bison (18-17) are scheduled to play 10 of their final 14 games - all Summit League contests - at home beginning Friday, May 3, against Oakland.

Five NDSU players had two hits each, including Altavilla's 2-for-3 night off the bench.  His two-run single in the sixth provided the eventual winning run scoring Andy Wicklund and John Skrbec to make it a 7-4 game.

Leadoff hitter James Zamko was 3-for-6 with three RBIs and two runs scored for Winnipeg (6-10).  He drove in two runs in the seventh to pull within 7-6 but the Wesmen left the bases loaded. Kingsley pitched two full innings for the save allowing just a single in the eighth.

Freshman left-hander Zach Mayo, the only Canadian player on the NDSU roster, was the second of six Bison pitchers and struck out five batters in 2 2/3 innings for the victory.  He allowed one run on three hits with one walk and is 1-0 on the season.

Winnipeg starter Josh Loewen gave up seven runs, six earned, on 12 hits with one walk and two strikeouts and dropped to 3-2 with the loss.  Daniel Worb pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts.

North Dakota State's four-game series with Oakland begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday and continues with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday, May 4, and the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 5.