Box Score (PDF)
MACOMB, Ill. – The North Dakota State University baseball team defeated the Western Illinois Leathernecks, 3-1, in the first game of a three-game Summit League series on Friday, March 18, at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium in Macomb, Ill.
With the win, NDSU improves to 10-6 overall and 1-0 in Summit League play, while WIU drops to 2-14 and 0-1 in league competition.
Sophomore
Drew Fearing paced the Bison at the plate, going 2-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run scored, while fellow sophomore
Brayden Resch went 2-for-3 in the batter's box and drove in a run.
Right-hander
Brian VanderWoude tallied the win on the mound to improve to 4-1 on the season after allowing no earned runs on three hits in 3.2 innings of relief. VanderWoude tallied a game-high six strikeouts and just two walks on 69 total pitches and 18 batters faced.
Bison closer
Sean Terres secured his team and Summit League-high fifth save of the season after holding the Leathernecks scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings.
North Dakota State jumped out to a 2-0 lead after plating a pair of runs in the top of the third-inning. Fearing drove in NDSU's first run of the game after he belted a two-out double to center field, allowing freshman
Alec Abercrombie, who hit a double in the previous at bat, to cross home plate. Resch plated Fearing on an infield single during the next at bat to give NDSU its second run of the inning.
The Leathernecks cut the Bison lead to 2-1 after scoring on a bases loaded hit by pitch in the bottom of the fourth.
NDSU added its third run of the game in the top of the ninth-inning when Fearing hit his second double of the contest, a shot to right center, to plate
Paul Funk, who led off the inning with a walk.
Chris Tschida and Roman Visintine both collected two hits to lead Western Illinois at the plate.
WIU starter Preston Church (0-2) suffered the loss on the mound after giving up two earned runs on five hits in 5.1 innings of work.
North Dakota State and Western Illinois are scheduled to continue the three-game series with a contest at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 19, in Macomb.
