FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State University baseball team rallied from a 9-0 deficit entering the bottom of the sixth inning to force extra innings, before completing the comeback with a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the 12th inning, to defeat the Fort Wayne Mastodons, 13-12, on a sunny and warm Saturday, May 2, before 243 spectators at Newman Outdoor Field.
 
With the win, the Bison improved to 15-26 overall and 7-16 in Summit League action, while Fort Wayne dropped to 25-18 on the season and 12-11 in league play.

Trailing 12-10 entering the bottom of the 12th inning, Brayden Resch hit a lead-off double to left field, before Mason Pierzchalski singled to left center to advance Resch to third with designated hitter Taylor Sanders coming to the plate. Sanders delivered a RBI single to left field to score Resch and trim the NDSU deficit to 12-11. Danny Palmiscno moved Sanders to second an Pierzchalski to third with a sacrifice bunt, before Any Wicklund singled down the right field line in the next at bat, scoring Pierzchalski to knot the game, 12-12. During the next at bat, Aiden Hook was hit by a 3-2 pitch, bringing Danny Regan to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. Regan worked a walk, allowing pinch-runner Trevor Jaunich to cross home plate and secure NDSU's 13-12 victory.

Regan led the Bison at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a double, while Resch, Jon Hechtner, Jayse McLean, Sanders, Pierzchalski and Wicklund also collected multiple hits in the contest. Hechtner drove in a game-high four runs, and Regan, McLean, Resch, Pierzchalski, Sanders and Wicklund also tallied at least one run batted in.

Jaunich (2-2) picked up the win on the mound for NDSU after surrendering two earned runs on four hits with a strikeout in three innings of relief.

The Bison began their furious comeback in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring two runs to cut the IPFW lead to 9-2. Sanders provided the opening run of the frame on a RBI single to left, before scoring on a wild pitch with the bases loaded for the second run.

NDSU continued to chip away in the seventh, plating three runs to pull within 9-5. Hechtner hit a RBI single to center field for the first run of the inning, before two straight RBI ground outs from Resch and Pierzchalski scored two more runs for the Bison.

The Bison made it a one-run contest in the bottom of the eighth, scoring three runs. McLean scored two runs on a sharply hit two RBI triple to left center, before a Hechtner ground out provided the third run of the frame to make it 9-8.

Fort Wayne extended its lead to 10-8 with a RBI single in the top of the ninth, but the Bison were able to tie the contest, 10-10, with two runs in the bottom-half of the inning to force extra innings after a two-run double down the right field line from Hechtner.

Jaunich held IPFW scoreless in the 10th and 11th innings, before the Mastodons were able to take a 12-10 lead after a home run and RBI double in the top of the 12th, before the Bison rallied in the bottom-half of the frame for the walk-off win.

Shane Trevino, Greg Kaiser and Shannon Baker each tallied three hits to lead Fort Wayne offensively in the game, while closer Jake Weber took the loss on the mound after giving up five earned runs on eight hits in three-and two-thirds innings of work.

North Dakota State is scheduled to host Fort Wayne at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 3, in the series finale of the three-game series at Newman Outdoor Field.