GREELEY, Colo. – The North Dakota State baseball team (4-9) posted a pair of victories to close out a four-game series at Northern Colorado (2-6) on Sunday, March 8, at Jackson Field.
The Bison began the day by claiming a 13-11 win in the second game of a doubleheader that was suspended in the bottom of the eighth inning due to darkness Saturday night and resumed Sunday afternoon, before taking the final game of the four-game series, 8-3.
Paul Funk led the Bison at the plate in the second game of the twin bill, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and three RBI, while
Juan Gamez tallied a pinch-hit grand slam in the top of the eighth for four runs batted in. It was his second grand slam of the season.
Trevor Jaunich (1-2) picked up the victory on the mound for the Bison.
The Bison entered the top of the eighth trailing the Bears,11-6, before getting two runs on back-to-back bases loaded walks and four on Gamez's grand slam to take a 12-11 advantage. North Dakota State added its 13th run of the contest in the top of the ninth on another bases loaded walk, and
Jay Flaa worked around a lead-off single in the bottom of the ninth with a double-play and a strike out, securing the victory.
Ben Petersen paced NDSU offensively in the final game of the series, going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a homer. The home run was his first of the season.
Trent Keefer (1-1) secured the win on mound for NDSU after allowing just three earned runs in eight innings with seven strikeouts and only two walks.
NDSU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after plating a pair of runs in the top of the first inning on singles from
Mason Pierzchalski and
John Skrbec, before Northern Colorado tied the game with two runs in the bottom-half of the frame.
The Bison regained the lead for good, 3-2, in the top of the second after Funk led-off the inning with a triple and scored on a RBI single to left field from Petersen.
North Dakota State is scheduled to begin Summit League play with a three-game series at Oral Roberts on Friday, March 13, through Sunday, March 15.