BROOKINGS, S.D. – The North Dakota State University baseball team (8-19, 3-10 Summit League) fell to the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits (18-13, 7-6 Summit League), 5-2, in the opening game of a three-game Summit League series at Erv Huether Field on Friday, April 10.

The Bison and Jacks are scheduled to play game two of the series Saturday, April 11, at 1 p.m.

Senior right-handed pitcher David Ernst made his 46th career start in the contest to become the all-time career starts leader in NDSU history, passing former Bison great Jake Laber, who made 45 starts from 2005-08.

Aiden Hook and Taylor Sanders each doubled in the contest, with Hook also batting in a run on a sacrifice fly. Ben Petersen and Juan Gamez also collected hits in the game, while Andy Wicklund posted a RBI.

The Bison took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Hook led-off the inning with a double to right center and advanced all the way to third base on a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt from Paul Funk, before scoring on Wicklund's ground out to give NDSU the early edge.

The Jackrabbits answered in the bottom-half of the inning, though, plating two runs on back-to-back RBI singles to gain a 2-1 lead.

South Dakota State increased its lead to 5-1 after scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth on a pair of RBI singles and a Bison fielding error.

NDSU cut the Jackrabbit advantage to 5-2 in the top of the eighth when Hook scored Gamez on a sacrifice fly to right field.

Petersen hit a two-out single in the top of the ninth, but a fly out to right ended rally opportunity for the Bison.

Matthew Johnson went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the Jackrabbit offense, while RHP Adam Bray pitched his second complete game of the season to improve to 4-3 on the mound. Bray surrendered just one earned run on four hits while striking out five and didn't allow a walk in the game.