Box Score (PDF)

TUCSON, Ariz. – The North Dakota State University baseball team scored seven runs in both the third and sixth innings to help it coast to a 17-4 seven-inning victory over the Dickinson State University Blue Hawks Monday, March 12, at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium.

North Dakota State (7-9) is scheduled to open Summit League play at Western Illinois on Friday, March 16, at 3 p.m. in Macomb, Ill.

The 17 runs scored marked the most runs in a single game for NDSU since the 2015 season when the Bison claimed an 18-7 win at Fort Wayne.

Sophomore Jake Malec led North Dakota State at the plate, going 3-for-4 with four RBI, two runs scored and a three-run home run. The homer was the first of Malec's collegiate career.

Senior Logan Busch added a home run – his first of the season, while sophomore Tucker Rohde tallied three hits, and fellow sophomore Bennett Hostetler compiled a pair of hits to go along with two RBI in the contest.

Freshman right-hander Zach Smith (1-0) earned his first collegiate victory on the mound after allowing two earned runs on four hits with four strikeouts and one walk in three innings pitched.  

Karson Hanosky and Ryan Absher each had two hits to pace the Blue Hawks (0-5) offensively.

Dickinson State's Kooper Ray (0-1) suffered the loss after giving up eight earned runs on eight hits with four walks and no strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings of work.