Box Score (PDF)

ABILENE, Texas – The North Dakota State University baseball team stranded 11 runners on base as it fell to the Abilene Christian University Wildcats, 4-1, Friday, Feb. 24, at Crutcher Scott Field.

With the loss, the Bison fall to 4-1 on the season while ACU improves to 1-4 overall.

Senior outfielder Ben Petersen scored NDSU's lone run of the game on his second home run of the season.

North Dakota State senior right-hander Luke Lind (1-1) suffered his first loss of the season on the mound after allowing two earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts and no walks in six innings pitched.  

The Bison took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third after Petersen blasted a solo homer to left-center, but the Wildcats responded in the bottom of the fourth and tied the game on a solo shot from designated hitter Luis Trevino.

Abilene Christian took the lead for good with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning, and added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh for the 4-1 lead.

Second baseman Dalon Farkas, right fielder Russell Crippen and catcher Cole Solomon each tallied two hits for ACU, with Solomon driving in a game-best two runs.

Abilene Christian reliever Jonah Smith (1-0) earned the win after allowing no earned runs on one hit with three walks and a strikeout in 3 1/3 innings.

The Bison and Wildcats are scheduled to play the second game of the three-game series Saturday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m.