Box Score (PDF)

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The University of Massachusetts Minuteman defeated the North Dakota State University baseball team, 9-5, in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational Tuesday, March 14, at historic Chain of Lakes Stadium in Winter Haven, Florida.

The Bison fall to 7-9 on the season with the loss, while UMass improves to 3-4 overall.

Junior infielder Drew Fearing went 3-for-4 at the plate with a pair of doubles and an RBI to lead NDSU offensively. Senior outfielder Ben Petersen added a pair of hits, and junior first baseman Mason Pierzchalski tallied a triple and double to go along with a run batted in. Redshirt junior outfielder Logan Busch added a triple and drove in a run, respectively.  

Left-handed reliever Chris Choles (1-1) suffered the loss on the mound for the Bison after giving up two earned runs on three hits with a strikeout and walk in the seventh-inning.

Outfielders Nolan Kessinger and Logan Greene, and first baseman Cooper Mrowka each posted three hits, leading the Minutemen in the batter's box.

UMass reliever Kevin Hassett (1-0) earned the win after giving up one earned run on two hits with a strikeout and two walks in 2 1/3 innings.

North Dakota State is slated to conclude play in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational with a game against Lehigh Wednesday, March 15, at 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. CT) at Webber International University in Babson Park, Fla.