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FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State University baseball team upset the No. 19-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers, 7-4, on Tuesday, April 26, at Newman Outdoor Field in front of 362 spectators.
The victory marks the second win over an NCAA Division I top-25 opponent for the Bison, with the first occurring at fifth-ranked Arizona during the 2012 season.
With the win, NDSU improves to 21-18 overall, while Minnesota drops to 25-12.
Sophomore
Drew Fearing, and seniors
Paul Funk and
Danny Regan each tallied two hits in the game to lead North Dakota State, with Fearing also driving in a pair of runs. Redshirt sophomore
Logan Busch also compiled two RBIs.
NDSU right-hander
Colin Baumgard (2-0) was awarded the win on the mound after pitching two innings in relief and allowing two earned runs on four hits with a strikeout. Senior right-hander
Brian VanderWoude earned his fourth save of 2016 after surrendering no hits or earned runs in the eighth and ninth innings while striking out four and walking none.
The Bison trailed the Golden Gophers, 3-0, before scoring three runs on three hits in the bottom of the second inning. Busch drove in NDSU's opening run of the game on an RBI single right field, before Fearing tied the contest with a two-RBI single to right. North Dakota State scored all three runs in the inning with two outs.
NDSU broke the tie the next inning, scoring three runs on no hits and one error to gain a 6-3 edge.
Ben Petersen was hit by a pitch to lead-off the inning, before
Brayden Resch worked a walk, bringing
Taylor Sanders to the plate. A throwing error on Sanders' sacrifice bunt allowed Petersen to score and give NDSU the lead, 4-3. The Bison added the final two runs of the inning on a
Mason Pierzchalski fielder's choice RBI and
Juan Gamez RBI ground out.
The Golden Gophers cut the lead to 6-4 with a run in the top of the fourth, but NDSU pitchers
Chris Choles and VanderWoude silenced the Minnesota offense the remaining five innings to secure the victory.
Dan Motl and Micah Coffey both compiled two hits to lead Minnesota, while Troy Traxler batted in three runs.
Right-hander Jake Stevenson (0-1) suffered the loss on the mound after failing to record an out and allowing three unearned runs with one walk.
North Dakota State is scheduled to host Oral Roberts in the first game of a three-game Summit League series on Friday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m. at Newman Outdoor Field.
