TUCSON, Ariz. – The North Dakota State baseball team (0-4) dropped the first game of a two game set at Arizona (4-0), 7-2, on Tuesday evening, Feb. 17, at Hi Corbett Field.

Mason Pierzchalski went 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in a run to lead the Bison offense, while John Skrbec and Brayden Resch each tallied a double, with Skrbec also collecting a RBI.  

On the mound, right-hander Brian VanderWoude pitched five innings in relief for the Bison and didn't allow an earned run, while matching his career-high of six strikeouts and surrendering no walks. Reed Pfannenstein (0-1) took the loss for the Bison in his 2015 season debut after giving up six earned runs on eight hits with two walks and one strikeout.

North Dakota State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning after Skrbec sent a towering double into left center that scored Jon Hechtner from first base. Pierzchalski drove in Skrbec on a single to left field for the second NDSU run of the inning.

Arizona fought back in the bottom-half of the inning, though, scoring three runs on two hits to take a 3-2 lead. The first run occurred on a bases-loaded balk, before Riley Moore's RBI ground out tied the game at two. Bobby Dalbec hit a RBI single through the left side on the next at bat, giving the Wildcats the lead.

Arizona extended its lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the second inning on a Justin Behnke RBI single to left center.

The Wildcats added three more runs in the bottom of the third to extend their advantage to 7-2. Tyler Krause sent a triple into left center, plating Kevin Newman for the opening run of the frame. Dalbec continued the scoring for Arizona, driving in Riley Moore on a single for the second run of the inning. The Wildcats plated their third and final run of the inning on a double-play.

 North Dakota State and Arizona will conclude the two-game set on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m. MT (7 p.m. CT).