MACOMB, Ill. – Right-handed pitcher Joe Mortillaro threw seven scoreless innings and struck out four to lead the Western Illinois University Leathernecks to a 1-0 victory over the North Dakota State University baseball team in game one of a three-game Summit League series at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium on Friday, March 27.

With the loss, the Bison fall to 5-15 overall and 1-6 in Summit League play, while Western Illinois improves to 6-14 and 3-4 in league action.

Game two of the series is scheduled to begin at noon on Saturday, March 28.

The lone run of the game occurred in the bottom of the first inning when the Leathernecks' Chris Tschida, the reigning Summit League co-Player of the Week, drove in Roman Visintine on a RBI ground out to second base.

Ben Petersen paced the Bison on offense, going 2-for-3 at the plate to extend his team-best hitting streak to eight games. John Skrbec and Mason Pierzchalski each added a hit for NDSU.

Bison right-hander David Ernst (1-6) pitched his first complete game of the season but took the loss after giving up what proved to be the game-winning run in the first inning. The Fargo native scattered six hits while striking out two and walking three in eight innings of work.

Mortillaro (2-1) earned the win for the Leathernecks, while reliever Tyler Owings notched his second save of the season after holding the Bison scoreless over two innings.

Visintine and Mark Garton each went 2-for-3 in the batter's box to pace WIU offensively.