North Dakota State Baseball Surges Late to Defeat Oral Roberts, 10-7

Friday, May 5

Fargo, N.D.

6:30 p.m.

North Dakota State Athletics

23-21, 13-9

Oral Roberts

32-12, 19-3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Oral Roberts	0	0	2	0	3	1	1	0	0	7	11	1
North Dakota State	0	0	2	0	1	0	5	2	X	10	14	1

Photo by: Carrie Snyder

North Dakota State Baseball Surges Late to Defeat Oral Roberts, 10-7

5/5/2017 10:56:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Box Score (PDF)

FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State University baseball team scored seven unanswered runs in the seventh and eighth innings to rally and defeat Summit League-leading Oral Roberts, 10-7, on Friday, May 5, at Newman Outdoor Field in the opening game of a three-game series.

With the win, the Bison improve to 23-21 overall and 13-9 in league play while the Golden Eagles drop to 32-12 on the season and 19-3 in league action.

Freshman infielder Bennett Hostetler went a season-best 4-for-5 with two runs scored, while junior infielder Mason Pierzchalski drove in a game-best four runs on three hits to lead North Dakota State at the plate. Senior catcher Danny Palmiscno added a pair of hits and scored two runs, and sophomore Alec Abercrombie hit his first collegiate home run.

Junior reliever Chris Choles (4-2) earned the win on the mound after giving up two runs – one earned – on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks in 2 2/3 innings. Redshirt junior Kevin Folman secured his seventh save of 2017 after allowing no earned runs on just one hit with two strikeouts and no walks in 1 2/3 innings.

The Bison scored five runs in the seventh inning to charge back from a 7-3 deficit and gain their first lead of the game, 8-7. Pierzchalski plated the first two runs in the rally with a single through the right side that scored Hostetler and Palmiscno. Logan Busch worked a bases loaded walk to trim the ORU lead to 7-6, before JT Core hit a single to center field, allowing Ben Petersen and Pierzchalski to cross home plate to give NDSU the lead.

North Dakota State added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to extend its lead to 10-7 after Petersen smacked a single through the left side, scoring Hostetler and Fearing.

The Golden Eagles attempted to rally in the top of the ninth after ORU first baseman Brent Williams hit a one-out double, but Folman coaxed a pair of ground outs to end the threat and seal the NDSU victory.

Infielder Nick Roark went a perfect 4-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored to lead Oral Roberts in the batter's box.

ORU reliever Bryce Howe (0-2) suffered the loss on the mound after surrendering two earned runs and one unearned run on three hits with a strikeout and three walks in one inning.

The Bison and Golden Eagles are scheduled to play game two of the series on Saturday, May 6, at 1 p.m. at Newman Outdoor Field.