FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State University baseball team (11-26, 5-16 Summit League) defeated the Western Illinois University Leathernecks (12-26, 7-14 Summit League), 9-4, in the series finale of a three-game Summit League series on Sunday, April 26, at Newman Outdoor Field in front of 222 spectators.
Ben Petersen went 3-for-5 at the plate with three RBI to lead the Bison offensively, while
Drew Fearing also collected three hits, going 3-for-4 with a run batted in.
Bison right-hander
Brian VanderWoude (2-1) tallied the win on the mound in his first start of the season, and only the second start of his career, after allowing four earned runs on eight hits with two strikeouts and three walks in five innings of work. Lefty
Blake Stockert picked up his first collegiate save for NDSU after holding Western Illinois scoreless over an inning and a third with four strikeouts and no walks.
Trailing 3-1 entering the bottom of the fourth inning, the Bison plated four runs to gain a 5-3 lead. Fearing plated the first run of the frame on a RBI single up the middle, before
Jon Hechtner hit a RBI single to left field, tying the game. The Bison plated the go-ahead run after a Western Illinois fielding error on Hechner's single, scoring
Danny Regan. Petersen added the fourth run of the inning on a RBI ground out.
After the Leathernecks scored a run in the fifth to pull within 5-4, the Bison plated four more runs in the eighth inning to increase their lead to 9-4. Petersen hit a RBI single for the opening run of the frame, before
Taylor Sanders placed a two RBI double down the right field line for two more runs. Petersen crossed home plate on a Western Illinois error for the fourth run of the inning.
Colton Pogue compiled three hits in four at bats to lead WIU in the batter's box, while J.T. Baksha (2-4) suffered the loss after giving up three earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and a walk in three innings pitched.
The Bison are scheduled to travel to Grand Forks, N.D., on Tuesday, April 28, for a 6:30 p.m. non-league contest against the University of North Dakota.
