Box Score (PDF)
FARGO, N.D. –
Ben Petersen tripled and
Paul Funk doubled to help lift the North Dakota State University baseball team to a 13-7 victory over Minot State University on a chilly Wednesday evening, April 6, at Newman Outdoor Field in the 2016 home opener.
With the win, the Bison improve to 12-13 overall while Minot State falls to 4-18 on the season.
Petersen and Funk combined for four hits, three runs scored and three RBIs to lead NDSU, while senior
Taylor Sanders drove in a pair of runs.
Bison right-handed reliever
Brian VanderWoude improved to a team-best 5-1 on the season after tossing 1 2/3 innings and surrendering no earned runs on two hits with three strikeouts and no walks.
North Dakota State jumped out to a 4-0 lead after scoring a pair of run in the first and third innings.
The Bison added runs in the fourth and fifth innings to increase their advantage to 6-0.
Minot State answered with seven runs in the top of the sixth and gained a 7-6 lead, though. Beaver first baseman Celestino Rodriguez provided four of the seven runs in the inning after he belted a grand slam over the right field fence.
NDSU fought back, however, and plated five runs in the seventh to regain the advantage, 11-7. Sanders and
Alec Abercrombie crossed home plate on back-to-back passed balls, and Funk scored on a throwing error for the first three runs of the frame before Petersen hit a towering triple to right field to plate
Logan Busch and
Matt Elsenpeter.
The Bison added two more runs in the eighth after
Andy Wicklund scored on a wild pitch and Elsenpeter smacked an RBI single to center.
Rodriguez led Minot State at the plate after driving in four runs with his grand slam.
Beaver pitcher Chandler Jacob (0-1) suffered the loss on the mound after giving up three unearned runs on no hits with three walks.
Minot State outhit North Dakota State, 10-9, but committed five errors compared to only two for the Bison.
NDSU is scheduled to return to Summit League play on Friday, April 8, at 6:30 p.m. against IPFW in the first game of a three-game series at Newman Outdoor Field.
