Friday, May 30
Corvallis, Ore.
10 p.m.
North Dakota State Athletics
at
Oregon State
Photo by: Jim Trewin
Bison Set to Battle No. 1 National Seed Oregon State in NCAA Corvallis Regional Opener
5/28/2014 9:48:00 PM | Baseball
No. 4 North Dakota State Bison (25-24) vs. No. 1 Oregon State Beavers (42-12)
Friday, May 30, 2014 | 8:05 p.m. PT (10:05 p.m. CT)
Goss Stadium (Corvallis, Ore.)
NCAA Division I Baseball Corvallis Regional Opening Round
Live Stats | WatchESPN | TV: ESPNU (Adam Amin, play-by-play; Danny Kannell, color commentary)
Social Media: @NDSUbaseball | @NDSUathletics | @NCAACWS
Join the Conversation on Twitter: #RoadtoOmaha
Brackets: Interactive Bracket | Printable Bracket (PDF) | Printable Regional Bracket (PDF)
Complete Games Notes (PDF) | Official Regional Website
SETTING THE SCENE: After claiming their first-ever Summit League tournament championship Saturday, May 24, in Sioux Falls, S.D., the North Dakota State Bison baseball team will travel to Corvallis, Ore., and face No. 1 overall national seed Oregon State Friday, May 30, in the opening round of the NCAA Division I Corvallis Regional Tournament at Goss Stadium. First-pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. PT (10:05 p.m. CT).
MEDIA COVERAGE: Friday's opening round game against Oregon State will be televised live nationally on ESPNU with Adam Amin describing play-by-play and Danny Kannell providing color commentary. ESPN will cover every contest in the regional either on television or online (www.WatchESPN.com). Live statistics for the game will be available at www.OSUBeavers.com.
THE SERIES: Friday's game against the top-seeded Beavers will be the first-ever meeting between NDSU and Oregon State in baseball.
THE OPPONENT: The Oregon State Beavers enter Friday's contest with an overall record of 42-12 after dropping two of three games at USC to close out their 2014 regular season. Oregon State tallied a Pac-12 record of 23-7 to claim the conference's regular season championship for the second straight year. Junior outfielder Michael Conforto, who is hitting a team-and Pac-12-high .364 in 54 starts, has 68 hits in 187 at bats this season to pace the Beaver offense. Conforto leads the team in doubles (15), home runs (7), total bases (108), slugging percentage (.578), walks (50) and on base percentage (.518). His 50 walks are also a Pac-12-high and rank fourth in the latest NCAA Division I statistical rankings. Junior outfielder Dylan Davis has a team-and Pac-12-high 63 RBI to go along with six homers, 13 doubles and a .286 batting average. On the mound, senior left-hander Ben Wetzler leads the team, Pac-12 and NCAA Division I in individual pitching with an ERA of 0.76 in 13 appearances and 12 starts for Oregon State. Wetzler is 11-1 overall in 95.0 IP and has allowed just eight earned runs on 45 hits all season long with 73 strikeouts and 28 walks. He is limiting opponents to a .144 batting average. Junior southpaw Jace Fry is also 11-1 on the mound for the Beavers and has an ERA of 1.43 in 15 appearances and 15 starts. Fry has thrown a Pac-12-high 115.0 innings this season, allowing 18 earned runs on 77 hits while striking out 94 and walking 29. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Andrew Moore is 5-5 overall with a 2.88 ERA in 84.1 innings of work. Moore has given up 27 earned runs on 91 hits and has 50 punch outs to go along with 25 free passes this season. As a team, Oregon State ranks second in all of NCAA Division I with a team ERA of 2.13. The Beavers are hitting .275 as a team.
CATCHING UP WITH THE BISON: North Dakota State Bison baseball enters Friday's opening round tilt with top-seeded Oregon State with an overall record of 25-24 after beating Western Illinois, 9-0, Saturday, May 24, to capture their first-ever Summit League tournament title. With the win, NDSU received the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, marking the first time the Bison have made the NCAA baseball tournament since reclassifying from Division II in 2004. Senior outfielder Tim Colwell leads the Bison offense with a team-and Summit League-high .376 batting average in 49 games played and 49 starts. The 2014 Summit League Player of the Year also leads to Bison in hits (73), at bats (194), runs scored (43) ,total bases (92) and stolen bases (19-of-24). Colwell is the NDSU career leader in games played, at bats, hits, runs scored, stolen bases, triples and stolen base attempts. Senior designated hitter Wes Satzinger leads the team and league in doubles with 18 and boasts a team-best slugging percentage of .529 and on base mark of .465. Satzinger, a 2014 All-Summit League second team selection, has a batting average of .361 with 56 hits in 155 at bats to go along with two home runs and one triple and 31 RBI. He also has 25 walks on the season, second-highest on the team. Satzinger is the NDSU career leader in sacrifice flies with 11. 2014 All-Summit League second-team honoree Kyle Kleinendorst leads the Bison and The Summit League in triples with five and also has a team-high 40 RBI, 27 walks and three home runs. Kleinendorst, a senior utility player, is batting .311 with 52 hits in 167 at bats. On the mound for NDSU, junior right-handed pitcher and 2014 All-Summit League second team honoree David Ernst is 5-4 overall with a 3.70 ERA in 14 starts and appearances for the Bison. Ernst has pitched three complete games in a team-high 87.2 innings pitched. He has allowed 36 earned runs on 98 hits with 37 strikeouts and 27 base on balls. Ernst is holding opposing hitters to a .288 batting average. Junior southpaw and 2014 All-Summit League second team selection Parker Trewin boasts a team-low 2.58 ERA in 13 appearances and 12 starts. Trewin is 7-2 overall with three complete games in 69.2 innings of work. He has given up a team-low 20 earned runs on 58 hits with a team-high 63 punch outs and 27 walks. Trewin is holding opposing batters to a .232 batting average. Freshman right-hander Reed Pfannenstein is 4-1 with a 2.86 ERA in 44 innings pitched. He has made six starts in 13 appearances, allowing 14 earned runs on 39 hits while striking out 28 and walking 17. Pfannenstein is holding opposing hitters to a .244 batting average. Junior left-hander Trent Keefer is 4-5 overall with a 5.40 ERA in 13 appearances and 12 starts. Keefer has given up 34 earned runs on 80 hits in 56.2 innings of work. He has struck out 54 and walked 24. Junior relief pitcher Trevor Jaunich has a 3.38 ERA in 26.2 innings pitched. The 2014 All-Summit League second team honoree leads the Bison in saves with seven and has allowed 10 earned runs on 24 hits. He has struck out 30 and walked 18 batters in 17 appearances. As a team, NDSU is hitting .275 and has a team ERA of 4.42.
GOING THE DISTANCE: NDSU starting pitchers David Ernst, Parker Trewin and Reed Pfannenstein pitched a combined 25.0 innings in NDSU's three Summit League tournament games last weekend. Ernst went 7.2 innings in the Bison's 4-3 opening round win over SDSU May 22 while Trewin went the full distance May 23 in NDSU's 6-1 victory against Western Illinois, going the full nine innings for his third complete game of the season. In the Bison's 9-0 championship win May 24 over Western Illinois, Pfannenstein went 8.1 innings. The Bison used only one reliever during three-day tournament.
NDSU IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT: The Bison are making their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament since reclassifying from Division II in 2004. Prior to this season, the last time NDSU appeared in an NCAA postseason baseball tournament was in 1969, when the Bison finished runner-up in the Midwest Regional in the College Division. In 1956, North Dakota State advanced to the NCAA District 5 playoffs, advancing all the way to the title game. NDSU has a combined all-time record of 3-3 in NCAA postseason tournament play (1956 and 1969 combined).
SEVEN BISON TABBED ALL-SUMMIT LEAGUE, COLWELL NAMED PLAYER OF THE YEAR: NDSU senior Tim Colwell was named The Summit League Player of the Year and All-Summit League First Team, joining six fellow Bison on the All-Summit League first and second teams, announced Wednesday, May 21, by the league office. Senior catcher Michael Leach joined Colwell on the All-Summit League First Team while senior infielders Kyle Kleinendorst and Wes Satzinger and junior pitchers David Ernst, Parker Trewin and Trevor Jaunich garnered All-Summit League Second Team honors.
165 AND COUNTING: North Dakota State senior Tim Colwell has started in 165 consecutive games dating back to his freshman season in 2011, ranking him among the national leaders in consecutive games-started. He has started all 49 games this season, 53 games in 2013, 60 in 2012 and made 44 starts out of 47 contests in 2011.
WEEKLY HONORS: North Dakota State had eight Summit League award winners this season. Reed Pfannenstein was named the league's co-Pitcher of the week for the week of May 12-18 after recording a career-high six strikeouts against South Dakota State May 17. Kyle Kleinendorst earned his second Player of the Week award after going 9-of-20 (.450) with 11 RBI, eight runs scored, three homers, a double, two walks and a sacrifice fly the week of April 28 - May 4. Parker Trewin was named co-Pitcher of the Week, his second Pitcher of the Week award this season, after tossing an eight inning complete game shutout at Fort Wayne May 3 with seven strikeouts and only one walk while surrendering five hits in the 12-0 NDSU win. Tim Colwell was named co-Player of the Week after going 11-for-16 (.688) with three doubles, four runs-scored and one stolen base in a four-game series against Western Illinois April 18-20. Kleinendorst earned his first Player of the Week award of 2014 when he was named co-Player of the Week after going 7-for-12 (.583) with three triples, two RBIs and five runs scored in a four-game series at Northern Colorado March 7-9. Wes Satzinger was co-Player of the Week after hitting 5-for-11 (.455) in three games at Murray State, where he homered and drove in two runs in a 4-1 win Friday, Feb. 28, and doubled twice with two runs scored in a 3-2 win Saturday, March 1. David Ernst was named Pitcher of the Week after allowing just three singles in seven scoreless innings in the 4-1 win at Murray State. Trewin picked up his inaugural Pitcher of the Week honor after pitching seven innings and striking out a career-best 10 batters with one walk and five hits in the Bison's 13-1 win over Maine March 16.
A LOOK BACK AT THE SUMMIT LEAGUE TOURNAMENT
G1: NDSU 4, South Dakota State 3: The North Dakota State baseball team (23-24) used a three-run eighth inning to upset top-seeded South Dakota State (27-28), 4-3, in the opening round of The Summit League Baseball Championship, presented by First PREMIER Bank/PREMIER Bankcard, Thursday, May 22, at Sioux Falls Stadium.
Trailing 2-1 entering the eighth, Kyle Kleinendorst stepped to the plate and belted his team-high fifth triple of the season off the right centerfield wall, allowing Jon Hechtner and Wes Satzinger to cross home plate and give the Bison a 3-2 advantage. With one out in the inning, Hechtner singled to shortstop and Satzinger worked a walk, bringing Kleinendorst to the plate. Kleinendorst scored NDSU's third run of the inning on a South Dakota State wild pitch to build the lead to 4-2.
Right-hander David Ernst went seven-and two-thirds innings on the mound for the Bison, allowing two earned runs on nine hits, all singles, while striking out three and walking only one batter on 108 pitches to earn the win and improve to 5-4 overall.
NDSU reliever Trevor Jaunich picked up his team-best seventh save of the season after pitching 1.1 innings and striking out three while allowing one earned run on a pair of hits.
Hechtner (3-for-5) and Nick Altavilla (2-for-4) both recorded multiple hits in the contest with Altavilla also batting in a run.
G2: NDSU 6, Western Illinois 1: Bison southpaw Parker Trewin pitched his third complete game of the season, helping the No. 4 seed North Dakota State baseball team (24-24) to a 6-1 victory over No. 2 seed Western Illinois (20-31) Friday, May 23, in The Summit League Baseball Championship, presented by First PREMIER Bank/PREMIER Bankcard, semifinals at Sioux Falls Stadium. With the win, NDSU clinched a spot in the championship game.
Trewin, a 6-foot-3 junior hailing from Ramsey, Minn., went the distance on the mound, pitching all nine innings. He allowed one earned run on six hits while striking out eight and walking three to improve to 7-2 overall.
Wes Satzinger went 2-for-4 at the plate and scored three runs while Jon Hechtner also went 2-for-4 in the batter's box and scored a pair of runs to pace the NDSU offense.
G3: NDSU 9, Western Illinois 0: John Skrbec drilled a two-out grand slam in the bottom of the first inning and Reed Pfannenstein pitched eight-and a third-shutout innings, powering the North Dakota State Bison baseball team (25-24) to a 9-0 win over Western Illinois (21-32) Saturday, May 24, at Sioux Falls Stadium to capture their first-ever Summit League baseball tournament championship and earn their first NCAA Division I Tournament appearance.
NDSU posted a perfect 3-0 record in the three-day, double-elimination tournament. Pfannenstein was named the tournament MVP, while teammates Nick Altavilla, David Ernst, Jon Hechtner, Michael Leach and Parker Trewin joined him on the All-Tournament team.
NDSU jumped out to an early 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. After an Altavilla walk, Leach hit a two-out single to right that drove in Wes Satzinger and Hechtner for the Bison's first two runs of the game. After Andy Wicklund drew a walk to load the bases, Skrbec stepped to the plate and hit a towering shot over the left field fence for the first grand slam of his career, plating four more runs for NDSU. Skrbec's grand slam was the first and only home run of the tournament and his first homer of the season.
Skrbec, Leach and Altavilla each went 2-for-4 at the plate to pace the Bison offense. Skrbec drove in a game-high four runs while Leach had three RBI. Hechtner and Altavilla also each had an RBI in the contest.
Pfannenstein, a native of St. Cloud, Minn., didn't allow a run on five Western Illinois hits and matched his career-high with six strikeouts. He walked just one batter and improved to 4-1 overall on the mound with the win.
NDSU added to its 6-0 lead in the bottom of the second, scoring two more runs. Altavilla singled home Tim Colwell and Leach hit an RBI single to right center that plated Kyle Kleinendorst.
The Bison lead ballooned to 9-0 in the bottom of the fifth after Hechtner was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
With the win, the Bison, the four seed, became the lowest seed to ever win the tournament and advanced to the NCAA baseball tournament for the first time since 1969. That year, the Bison won a pair of games in the NCAA College Division Midwest Regional, falling to Missouri State in the championship game.
THE COACH: North Dakota State head coach Tod Brown (Arizona, 1994) is in his seventh season with a 166-191 record, the second most wins in school history. Brown previously was the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for eight seasons at Bowling Green, where he was part of two division titles and a regular-season title in the Mid-American Conference. Brown began his collegiate coaching career in 1999 as a volunteer assistant at Arizona. He was a left-handed pitcher for the Wildcats under Hall of Fame coach Jerry Kindall and a member of the 1992 Pac-10 champs.
MORE ABOUT THE CORVALLIS REGIONAL: Along with the Bison and Oregon State, two other teams will compete in the Corvallis Regional beginning Friday. UNLV, the No. 2 seed, and UC Irvine, the No. 3 seed, will face off in the other opening round contest Friday, May 30, at 2:05 p.m. PT at Goss Stadium. That contest will be aired live on ESPN3.
CORVALLIS REGIONAL COMPLETE SCHEDULE:
All times Pacific
Friday, May 30
Game 1: #3 UC Irvine (35-22) vs. #2 UNLV (35-23) - 2 p.m., ESPN3
Game 2: #1 Oregon State (42-12) vs. #4 North Dakota State (25-24) - 8 p.m., ESPNU
Saturday, May 31
Game 3: Loser game 1 vs. Loser game 2 - 2 p.m.
Game 4: Winner game 1 vs. Winner game 2 - 8 p.m.
Sunday, June 1
Game 5: Loser game 4 vs. Winner game 3 - 2 p.m.
Game 6: Winner game 4 vs. Winner game 5 - 8 p.m.
Monday, June 2 (if necessary)
Game 7: Winner game 6 vs. Loser game 6 - 8 p.m.
Friday, May 30, 2014 | 8:05 p.m. PT (10:05 p.m. CT)
Goss Stadium (Corvallis, Ore.)
NCAA Division I Baseball Corvallis Regional Opening Round
Live Stats | WatchESPN | TV: ESPNU (Adam Amin, play-by-play; Danny Kannell, color commentary)
Social Media: @NDSUbaseball | @NDSUathletics | @NCAACWS
Join the Conversation on Twitter: #RoadtoOmaha
Brackets: Interactive Bracket | Printable Bracket (PDF) | Printable Regional Bracket (PDF)
Complete Games Notes (PDF) | Official Regional Website
SETTING THE SCENE: After claiming their first-ever Summit League tournament championship Saturday, May 24, in Sioux Falls, S.D., the North Dakota State Bison baseball team will travel to Corvallis, Ore., and face No. 1 overall national seed Oregon State Friday, May 30, in the opening round of the NCAA Division I Corvallis Regional Tournament at Goss Stadium. First-pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. PT (10:05 p.m. CT).
MEDIA COVERAGE: Friday's opening round game against Oregon State will be televised live nationally on ESPNU with Adam Amin describing play-by-play and Danny Kannell providing color commentary. ESPN will cover every contest in the regional either on television or online (www.WatchESPN.com). Live statistics for the game will be available at www.OSUBeavers.com.
THE SERIES: Friday's game against the top-seeded Beavers will be the first-ever meeting between NDSU and Oregon State in baseball.
THE OPPONENT: The Oregon State Beavers enter Friday's contest with an overall record of 42-12 after dropping two of three games at USC to close out their 2014 regular season. Oregon State tallied a Pac-12 record of 23-7 to claim the conference's regular season championship for the second straight year. Junior outfielder Michael Conforto, who is hitting a team-and Pac-12-high .364 in 54 starts, has 68 hits in 187 at bats this season to pace the Beaver offense. Conforto leads the team in doubles (15), home runs (7), total bases (108), slugging percentage (.578), walks (50) and on base percentage (.518). His 50 walks are also a Pac-12-high and rank fourth in the latest NCAA Division I statistical rankings. Junior outfielder Dylan Davis has a team-and Pac-12-high 63 RBI to go along with six homers, 13 doubles and a .286 batting average. On the mound, senior left-hander Ben Wetzler leads the team, Pac-12 and NCAA Division I in individual pitching with an ERA of 0.76 in 13 appearances and 12 starts for Oregon State. Wetzler is 11-1 overall in 95.0 IP and has allowed just eight earned runs on 45 hits all season long with 73 strikeouts and 28 walks. He is limiting opponents to a .144 batting average. Junior southpaw Jace Fry is also 11-1 on the mound for the Beavers and has an ERA of 1.43 in 15 appearances and 15 starts. Fry has thrown a Pac-12-high 115.0 innings this season, allowing 18 earned runs on 77 hits while striking out 94 and walking 29. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Andrew Moore is 5-5 overall with a 2.88 ERA in 84.1 innings of work. Moore has given up 27 earned runs on 91 hits and has 50 punch outs to go along with 25 free passes this season. As a team, Oregon State ranks second in all of NCAA Division I with a team ERA of 2.13. The Beavers are hitting .275 as a team.
CATCHING UP WITH THE BISON: North Dakota State Bison baseball enters Friday's opening round tilt with top-seeded Oregon State with an overall record of 25-24 after beating Western Illinois, 9-0, Saturday, May 24, to capture their first-ever Summit League tournament title. With the win, NDSU received the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, marking the first time the Bison have made the NCAA baseball tournament since reclassifying from Division II in 2004. Senior outfielder Tim Colwell leads the Bison offense with a team-and Summit League-high .376 batting average in 49 games played and 49 starts. The 2014 Summit League Player of the Year also leads to Bison in hits (73), at bats (194), runs scored (43) ,total bases (92) and stolen bases (19-of-24). Colwell is the NDSU career leader in games played, at bats, hits, runs scored, stolen bases, triples and stolen base attempts. Senior designated hitter Wes Satzinger leads the team and league in doubles with 18 and boasts a team-best slugging percentage of .529 and on base mark of .465. Satzinger, a 2014 All-Summit League second team selection, has a batting average of .361 with 56 hits in 155 at bats to go along with two home runs and one triple and 31 RBI. He also has 25 walks on the season, second-highest on the team. Satzinger is the NDSU career leader in sacrifice flies with 11. 2014 All-Summit League second-team honoree Kyle Kleinendorst leads the Bison and The Summit League in triples with five and also has a team-high 40 RBI, 27 walks and three home runs. Kleinendorst, a senior utility player, is batting .311 with 52 hits in 167 at bats. On the mound for NDSU, junior right-handed pitcher and 2014 All-Summit League second team honoree David Ernst is 5-4 overall with a 3.70 ERA in 14 starts and appearances for the Bison. Ernst has pitched three complete games in a team-high 87.2 innings pitched. He has allowed 36 earned runs on 98 hits with 37 strikeouts and 27 base on balls. Ernst is holding opposing hitters to a .288 batting average. Junior southpaw and 2014 All-Summit League second team selection Parker Trewin boasts a team-low 2.58 ERA in 13 appearances and 12 starts. Trewin is 7-2 overall with three complete games in 69.2 innings of work. He has given up a team-low 20 earned runs on 58 hits with a team-high 63 punch outs and 27 walks. Trewin is holding opposing batters to a .232 batting average. Freshman right-hander Reed Pfannenstein is 4-1 with a 2.86 ERA in 44 innings pitched. He has made six starts in 13 appearances, allowing 14 earned runs on 39 hits while striking out 28 and walking 17. Pfannenstein is holding opposing hitters to a .244 batting average. Junior left-hander Trent Keefer is 4-5 overall with a 5.40 ERA in 13 appearances and 12 starts. Keefer has given up 34 earned runs on 80 hits in 56.2 innings of work. He has struck out 54 and walked 24. Junior relief pitcher Trevor Jaunich has a 3.38 ERA in 26.2 innings pitched. The 2014 All-Summit League second team honoree leads the Bison in saves with seven and has allowed 10 earned runs on 24 hits. He has struck out 30 and walked 18 batters in 17 appearances. As a team, NDSU is hitting .275 and has a team ERA of 4.42.
GOING THE DISTANCE: NDSU starting pitchers David Ernst, Parker Trewin and Reed Pfannenstein pitched a combined 25.0 innings in NDSU's three Summit League tournament games last weekend. Ernst went 7.2 innings in the Bison's 4-3 opening round win over SDSU May 22 while Trewin went the full distance May 23 in NDSU's 6-1 victory against Western Illinois, going the full nine innings for his third complete game of the season. In the Bison's 9-0 championship win May 24 over Western Illinois, Pfannenstein went 8.1 innings. The Bison used only one reliever during three-day tournament.
NDSU IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT: The Bison are making their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament since reclassifying from Division II in 2004. Prior to this season, the last time NDSU appeared in an NCAA postseason baseball tournament was in 1969, when the Bison finished runner-up in the Midwest Regional in the College Division. In 1956, North Dakota State advanced to the NCAA District 5 playoffs, advancing all the way to the title game. NDSU has a combined all-time record of 3-3 in NCAA postseason tournament play (1956 and 1969 combined).
SEVEN BISON TABBED ALL-SUMMIT LEAGUE, COLWELL NAMED PLAYER OF THE YEAR: NDSU senior Tim Colwell was named The Summit League Player of the Year and All-Summit League First Team, joining six fellow Bison on the All-Summit League first and second teams, announced Wednesday, May 21, by the league office. Senior catcher Michael Leach joined Colwell on the All-Summit League First Team while senior infielders Kyle Kleinendorst and Wes Satzinger and junior pitchers David Ernst, Parker Trewin and Trevor Jaunich garnered All-Summit League Second Team honors.
165 AND COUNTING: North Dakota State senior Tim Colwell has started in 165 consecutive games dating back to his freshman season in 2011, ranking him among the national leaders in consecutive games-started. He has started all 49 games this season, 53 games in 2013, 60 in 2012 and made 44 starts out of 47 contests in 2011.
WEEKLY HONORS: North Dakota State had eight Summit League award winners this season. Reed Pfannenstein was named the league's co-Pitcher of the week for the week of May 12-18 after recording a career-high six strikeouts against South Dakota State May 17. Kyle Kleinendorst earned his second Player of the Week award after going 9-of-20 (.450) with 11 RBI, eight runs scored, three homers, a double, two walks and a sacrifice fly the week of April 28 - May 4. Parker Trewin was named co-Pitcher of the Week, his second Pitcher of the Week award this season, after tossing an eight inning complete game shutout at Fort Wayne May 3 with seven strikeouts and only one walk while surrendering five hits in the 12-0 NDSU win. Tim Colwell was named co-Player of the Week after going 11-for-16 (.688) with three doubles, four runs-scored and one stolen base in a four-game series against Western Illinois April 18-20. Kleinendorst earned his first Player of the Week award of 2014 when he was named co-Player of the Week after going 7-for-12 (.583) with three triples, two RBIs and five runs scored in a four-game series at Northern Colorado March 7-9. Wes Satzinger was co-Player of the Week after hitting 5-for-11 (.455) in three games at Murray State, where he homered and drove in two runs in a 4-1 win Friday, Feb. 28, and doubled twice with two runs scored in a 3-2 win Saturday, March 1. David Ernst was named Pitcher of the Week after allowing just three singles in seven scoreless innings in the 4-1 win at Murray State. Trewin picked up his inaugural Pitcher of the Week honor after pitching seven innings and striking out a career-best 10 batters with one walk and five hits in the Bison's 13-1 win over Maine March 16.
A LOOK BACK AT THE SUMMIT LEAGUE TOURNAMENT
G1: NDSU 4, South Dakota State 3: The North Dakota State baseball team (23-24) used a three-run eighth inning to upset top-seeded South Dakota State (27-28), 4-3, in the opening round of The Summit League Baseball Championship, presented by First PREMIER Bank/PREMIER Bankcard, Thursday, May 22, at Sioux Falls Stadium.
Trailing 2-1 entering the eighth, Kyle Kleinendorst stepped to the plate and belted his team-high fifth triple of the season off the right centerfield wall, allowing Jon Hechtner and Wes Satzinger to cross home plate and give the Bison a 3-2 advantage. With one out in the inning, Hechtner singled to shortstop and Satzinger worked a walk, bringing Kleinendorst to the plate. Kleinendorst scored NDSU's third run of the inning on a South Dakota State wild pitch to build the lead to 4-2.
Right-hander David Ernst went seven-and two-thirds innings on the mound for the Bison, allowing two earned runs on nine hits, all singles, while striking out three and walking only one batter on 108 pitches to earn the win and improve to 5-4 overall.
NDSU reliever Trevor Jaunich picked up his team-best seventh save of the season after pitching 1.1 innings and striking out three while allowing one earned run on a pair of hits.
Hechtner (3-for-5) and Nick Altavilla (2-for-4) both recorded multiple hits in the contest with Altavilla also batting in a run.
G2: NDSU 6, Western Illinois 1: Bison southpaw Parker Trewin pitched his third complete game of the season, helping the No. 4 seed North Dakota State baseball team (24-24) to a 6-1 victory over No. 2 seed Western Illinois (20-31) Friday, May 23, in The Summit League Baseball Championship, presented by First PREMIER Bank/PREMIER Bankcard, semifinals at Sioux Falls Stadium. With the win, NDSU clinched a spot in the championship game.
Trewin, a 6-foot-3 junior hailing from Ramsey, Minn., went the distance on the mound, pitching all nine innings. He allowed one earned run on six hits while striking out eight and walking three to improve to 7-2 overall.
Wes Satzinger went 2-for-4 at the plate and scored three runs while Jon Hechtner also went 2-for-4 in the batter's box and scored a pair of runs to pace the NDSU offense.
G3: NDSU 9, Western Illinois 0: John Skrbec drilled a two-out grand slam in the bottom of the first inning and Reed Pfannenstein pitched eight-and a third-shutout innings, powering the North Dakota State Bison baseball team (25-24) to a 9-0 win over Western Illinois (21-32) Saturday, May 24, at Sioux Falls Stadium to capture their first-ever Summit League baseball tournament championship and earn their first NCAA Division I Tournament appearance.
NDSU posted a perfect 3-0 record in the three-day, double-elimination tournament. Pfannenstein was named the tournament MVP, while teammates Nick Altavilla, David Ernst, Jon Hechtner, Michael Leach and Parker Trewin joined him on the All-Tournament team.
NDSU jumped out to an early 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. After an Altavilla walk, Leach hit a two-out single to right that drove in Wes Satzinger and Hechtner for the Bison's first two runs of the game. After Andy Wicklund drew a walk to load the bases, Skrbec stepped to the plate and hit a towering shot over the left field fence for the first grand slam of his career, plating four more runs for NDSU. Skrbec's grand slam was the first and only home run of the tournament and his first homer of the season.
Skrbec, Leach and Altavilla each went 2-for-4 at the plate to pace the Bison offense. Skrbec drove in a game-high four runs while Leach had three RBI. Hechtner and Altavilla also each had an RBI in the contest.
Pfannenstein, a native of St. Cloud, Minn., didn't allow a run on five Western Illinois hits and matched his career-high with six strikeouts. He walked just one batter and improved to 4-1 overall on the mound with the win.
NDSU added to its 6-0 lead in the bottom of the second, scoring two more runs. Altavilla singled home Tim Colwell and Leach hit an RBI single to right center that plated Kyle Kleinendorst.
The Bison lead ballooned to 9-0 in the bottom of the fifth after Hechtner was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
With the win, the Bison, the four seed, became the lowest seed to ever win the tournament and advanced to the NCAA baseball tournament for the first time since 1969. That year, the Bison won a pair of games in the NCAA College Division Midwest Regional, falling to Missouri State in the championship game.
THE COACH: North Dakota State head coach Tod Brown (Arizona, 1994) is in his seventh season with a 166-191 record, the second most wins in school history. Brown previously was the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for eight seasons at Bowling Green, where he was part of two division titles and a regular-season title in the Mid-American Conference. Brown began his collegiate coaching career in 1999 as a volunteer assistant at Arizona. He was a left-handed pitcher for the Wildcats under Hall of Fame coach Jerry Kindall and a member of the 1992 Pac-10 champs.
MORE ABOUT THE CORVALLIS REGIONAL: Along with the Bison and Oregon State, two other teams will compete in the Corvallis Regional beginning Friday. UNLV, the No. 2 seed, and UC Irvine, the No. 3 seed, will face off in the other opening round contest Friday, May 30, at 2:05 p.m. PT at Goss Stadium. That contest will be aired live on ESPN3.
- UNLV: The UNLV Rebels enter the regional with an overall record of 35-23 after losing two of three games to close out the regular season. UNLV posted a record of 20-10 in Mountain West Conference play. Leading the Rebel offense is senior utility player Patrick Armstrong. Armstrong is hitting .306 with 67 hits in 219 at bats. He leads the team in RBI (45), home runs (7), triples (5), total bases (111) and slugging percentage (.507). Armstrong also has 13 doubles, but has struck out a team-high 44 times. On the mound, junior right-hander John Richy is 11-3 overall with a 2.78 ERA in a team-high 113.1 innings pitched. In 15 starts and appearances, Richy has allowed 35 earned runs on 104 hits while striking out a team-high 105 batters and walking 23. He is limiting opponents to a .246 batting average. As a team, UNLV is hitting .293 and has a team ERA of 3.19. Series Record with NDSU: 0-0.
- UC Irvine: The Anteaters enter the regional with an overall record of 35-22. UC Irvine compiled a record of 15-9 in Big West Conference play. Offensively, the Anteaters are led by junior infielder Connor Spencer. Spencer is hitting .361 with 78 hits in 216 at bats. He leads the team in hits, runs scored (30), RBI (38), total bases (103) and slugging percentage (..477). Spencer also has 12 doubles five triples, one homer and is 6-for-9 in stolen base attempts. On the mound, senior right-handed pitcher Andrew Morales is 9-2 with a 1.56 ERA in a team-high 109.1 innings of work. In 15 appearances and starts, Morales has given up 19 earned runs on 71 hits. He has struck out a team-best 119 batters and walked 24 and is holding opponents to a .183 batting average. As a team, UC Irvine is hitting .273 and has a team ERA of 2.82. Series Record with NDSU: 0-0.
CORVALLIS REGIONAL COMPLETE SCHEDULE:
All times Pacific
Friday, May 30
Game 1: #3 UC Irvine (35-22) vs. #2 UNLV (35-23) - 2 p.m., ESPN3
Game 2: #1 Oregon State (42-12) vs. #4 North Dakota State (25-24) - 8 p.m., ESPNU
Saturday, May 31
Game 3: Loser game 1 vs. Loser game 2 - 2 p.m.
Game 4: Winner game 1 vs. Winner game 2 - 8 p.m.
Sunday, June 1
Game 5: Loser game 4 vs. Winner game 3 - 2 p.m.
Game 6: Winner game 4 vs. Winner game 5 - 8 p.m.
Monday, June 2 (if necessary)
Game 7: Winner game 6 vs. Loser game 6 - 8 p.m.
Vanderbilt vs. NDSU Baseball Highlights - March 8, 2026
Wednesday, March 11
NDSU Baseball Postgame Press Conference (NCAA Regional vs Creighton) - June 1, 2025
Sunday, June 01
NDSU Baseball Postgame Press Conference (NCAA Regional vs Kansas) - May 31, 2025
Sunday, June 01
NDSU Baseball Postgame Press Conference - NCAA Regional vs No. 3 Arkansas - May 30, 2025
Friday, May 30
