FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State scored four unearned runs in the seventh and closer Kyle Kingsley retired six straight batters to give North Dakota State a 6-3 win over Fort Wayne in the opener of a four-game Summit League baseball series Thursday, May 16, at Newman Outdoor Field.

NDSU had one out in the seventh when a potential inning-ending double play ball was misplayed at shortstop.  Aiden Hook hit a sac fly, Tim Colwell blooped an RBI double into left-center field, and Jon Hechtner dropped a two-run single into shallow right-center for a 5-3 lead.

The Bison (21-25, 8-13 Summit) got an insurance run in the eighth when Kyle Kleinendorst laced a leadoff single to center field and moved up on a Blake Turbak bunt and John Skrbec single before Kirk Kenneally's sac fly to left-center.

Kingsley got two pop-ups, three ground balls and a strikeout for his eighth save of the year.  Starter John Straka improved to 7-2 with the victory allowing one earned run on eight hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in seven innings.

Colwell was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Kleinendorst and Skrbec both finished 2-for-4 for the Bison.  Clay Hathaway, Kevin Wirth and Markus Kalber each had two hits for Fort Wayne (22-29, 9-18 Summit).

IPFW starter Jason Kalber pitched all eight innings allowing two earned runs on 10 hits with one walk and four strikeouts in eight innings.  He dropped to 2-7 with the loss.

The Mastodons got two unearned runs in the first after an outfield collision resulted in a dropped fly ball with two outs, and the Dons went ahead 3-0 in the third when Hathaway hit a leadoff single and scored on Kevin Wirth's two-out double.

NDSU made it 3-1 in the sixth when Colwell drew a one-out walk, stole second and scored from second on Wes Satzinger's two-out single through the left side without a play when IPFW left fielder Brandon Soat fell setting his feet to throw.

The four-game series continues with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Friday, May 17, and concludes with a 1 p.m. game Saturday, May 18.  NDSU needs one more victory to qualify for the four-team Summit League tournament May 23-25 at Oakland.