Box Score (PDF)

FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State University baseball team claimed a 4-3 win over the Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles in the opening game of a three-game Summit League series on Friday, April 29, in front of 289 spectators at Newman Outdoor Field.

With the victory, the Bison improve to 22-18 overall and 8-11 in Summit League play, while ORU falls to 25-14 on the season and 14-5 in league action.

Sophomore Drew Fearing went 2-for-3 at the plate, and senior Andy Wicklund added a 1-of-2 effort with a pair of RBIs to lead North Dakota State.

Sophomore left-handed pitcher Blake Stockert (2-3) earned the win on the mound for the Bison after tossing six innings and allowing one unearned run on four hits with two walks and a strikeout. Senior reliever Brian VanderWoude secured his fifth save of the season after giving up two earned runs on five hits in three innings with three strikeouts and no walks.

NDSU took a 3-0 lead after scoring a trio of runs on one hit and three errors in the bottom of the second inning. Taylor Sanders reached on a throwing error before coming around to score after Danny Regan's double down the right field line was misplayed by the right fielder. Regan crossed home plate for the Bison's second run of the inning on another infield throwing error during Mason Pierzchalski's at bat. Wicklund scored Pierzchalski on a sacrifice fly to right for the third North Dakota State run of the frame.  

The Bison added another run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single to left field off the bat of Wicklund, building the lead to 4-0.

After scoring one run each in the sixth and seventh innings to cut the NDSU lead to 4-2, Oral Roberts attempted to rally in the top of the ninth inning, but VanderWoude limited the Golden Eagles to just one run and worked around a bases loaded jam with nobody out via a fielder's choice, strikeout and line out at the warning track in right field to secure the win.

Nick Rotola went 3-of-5 in the batter's box with a double and two RBIs to lead Oral Roberts.

ORU right-hander Bryce Howe (3-3) suffered the loss after giving up four runs, one earned, on six hits in four innings with three strikeouts and one walk.

The second game of the series is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at Newman Outdoor Field.