Box Score (PDF)
FARGO, N.D. – Senior
Reed Pfannenstein pitched 7 2/3 powerful innings and matched his career-high with eight strikeouts as the North Dakota State University baseball team defeated the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits, 4-1, on a beautiful Saturday, April 8, at Newman Outdoor Field.
With the victory, the Bison clinch their third straight Summit League series win and improve to 14-16 overall and 6-5 in league play while the Jacks drop to 13-13 on the season and 6-5 in league action.
Pfannenstein, a right-hander from Rockville, Minn., gave up only five hits and allowed just one earned run with no walks in his season-high 7 2/3 innings on the mound to earn his third win of the season and improve to 3-4.
Redshirt junior closer
Kevin Folman tallied his team-best fifth save of 2017 after tossing a scoreless top of the ninth inning.
Freshman infielder
Tucker Rohde went 2-for-4 at the plate, while senior
Ben Petersen belted a triple and junior
Mason Pierzchalski drove in a pair of runs to lead NDSU offensively.
North Dakota State jumped out to a 1-0 lead after
Danny Palmiscno scored
Bennett Hostetler with an RBI single to center field in the second inning.
The Bison increased their advantage to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. Petersen drove in
Drew Fearing with a towering triple to left field before scoring on Pierzchalski's sacrifice fly for the two NDSU runs.
The Jacks trimmed the Bison lead to 3-1 when
Matt Johnson hit a solo home run to right field in the fourth inning, but NDSU answered with a run in the fifth when Pierzchalski plated Fearing with a single to center field to push the Bison lead to 4-1.
North Dakota State kept South Dakota State off the scoreboard the remaining 12 outs with stellar pitching and defense to secure the victory.
Designated hitter Anthony Schneider went 2-for-4 in the batter's box with a double to lead the Jackrabbit offense.
SDSU starting pitcher Austin Kost (1-5) suffered the loss on the mound after allowing four runs – three earned – on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks in 4 2/3 innings.
The Bison and Jacks are slated to conclude the three-game series with a contest at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 9, at Newman Outdoor Field. The game will air live on Bison 1660 AM, 92.7 FM, Bison1660.com and the Bison 1660 app.
