OMAHA, Neb. – The North Dakota State University baseball team (5-12, 1-3 Summit League) dropped the opening game of a three-game Summit League series against the Omaha Mavericks (11-8, 4-0 Summit League) on Friday, March 20, at the Ballpark at Boys Town in Omaha, 20-14.

NDSU and UNO are scheduled to play the second contest of the three-game series Saturday at 1 p.m.

Aiden Hook paced the Bison offensively, going 2-for-3 at the plate with four RBI, while JT Core and Jayse McLean each drove in three runs. Hook, Paul Funk, Taylor Sanders and Andy Wicklund all collected multiple hits in the game.

Right-hander David Ernst (1-5) took the loss on the mound for NDSU after giving up eight earned runs on 10 hits with five walks and one strikeout.

Trailing 16-5 entering the top of the eighth inning, the Bison mounted a furious rally, pulling within 16-14 after Hook slashed a two RBI single to right center. It was the second hit of the inning for Hook, who drove in a pair of runs earlier in the frame with a triple to centerfield. JD Larimer added a two RBI double, and McLean plated a run on a RBI ground out in the inning. The Bison also benefitted from a pair of Maverick miscues, scoring two runs on a wild pitch and an error.

Omaha answered in the bottom-half of the inning, though, scoring four runs to extend its lead to 20-14.

The Bison attempted to rally in the ninth after Wicklund led-off the inning with a single, but a pair of strikeouts and a fielder's choice ended the opportunity for NDSU, securing the win for the Mavs.

Clayton Taylor went 4-for-5 at the plate with five RBI to lead to Maverick offense, while right-hander Tyler Fox (3-1) earned the win on the bump for UNO after allowing two earned runs on six hits with eight strikeouts and two walks in five innings of work.