FARGO, N.D. – Senior David Ernst hit a walk-off single to help the North Dakota State University baseball team (9-24, 4-14 Summit League) defeat Summit League-leading Oral Roberts University (27-11, 15-3 Summit League), 7-6, in the second game of a league doubleheader on Saturday, April 18, at Newman Outdoor Field. The Bison dropped the first game of the twin bill, 5-3, earlier in the day.

With the Bison trailing ORU, 6-5, entering the bottom of the ninth inning in game two, Drew Fearing led-off the frame with a single to shortstop before advancing to second on another infield single by Ben Petersen. Pinch-hitter Aiden Hook loaded the bases the next at bat on a fielder's choice bunt.

After an Oral Roberts pitching change, John Skrbec worked a walk, scoring Fearing to knot the game, 6-6. Ernst stepped to the plate the next at bat and smacked a RBI single to third base, scoring Petersen and winning the game for the Bison.

Juan Gamez paced the Bison at the plate in the contest, going 3-for-4 with a solo home run and RBI, while JD Larimer added a 2-for-3 performance with a team-high two runs batted in.

North Dakota State right-handed reliever Jay Flaa (1-1) posted the win on the mound after striking out four and walking none in four innings of work.

NDSU took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning after Gamez smashed a 2-0 pitch over the left field fence. It was Gamez's team-high sixth round-tripper of the season.

Oral Roberts answered in the fifth, tying the game on a long ball from Chase Stafford.

The Bison regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, plating three runs. Larimer provided the first two runs of the frame, scoring Ernst and Skrbec on a two RBI single to right-centerfield. Paul Funk gave the Bison their third run of the inning on a fielder's choice bunt RBI.

The Golden Eagles cut the NDSU lead to 4-3 with a pair of runs in the seventh, before gaining a 5-4 lead after scoring two runs in the eighth on a two-run homer from Anthony Sequeira.

North Dakota State deadlocked the contest, 5-5, in the bottom-half of the inning after Regan scored Gamez on a single to left field.

The Golden Eagles jumped back in front, 6-5, in the top of the ninth on a Derrian James RBI single.

Sequeira and Stafford each tallied homers and a pair of RBI to pace the Golden Eagles at the plate.

ORU reliever Jacob McDavid (2-2) took the loss after surrendering four earned runs on seven hits.

In game one, Oral Roberts raced out to a 4-1 advantage after plating runs in the first, second, and third innings.

The Bison fought back, trimming the lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth after Skrbec sent a 2-2 pitch off the scoreboard in left field, scoring Core, who had reached base after a ORU fielding error to lead-off the inning. The round-tripper was Skrbec's fifth of the season.

That would be as close as the Bison would get, though, as Oral Roberts held on for the 5-3 win.

Skrbec went 1-for-3 and recorded two RBI and two runs scored to go along with his home, leading the Bison at the plate in game one.

NDSU pitcher Brian VanderWoude tallied a new career-high seven strikeouts in five-and two-thirds innings of relief, while starter Reed Pfannenstein took the loss on the mound for NDSU after giving up three earned runs on three hits with three strikeouts in three innings of work.

James and Stafford each collected two hits to lead the Golden Eagle offense in game one, while RHP Xavier Altamirano picked up the win on the mound for ORU after allowing one earned run on four hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in six-and two-thirds innings.  

North Dakota State is scheduled to host Winnipeg in a non-league game on Monday, April 20 at 5 p.m. at Newman Outdoor Field.