Box Score (PDF)

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Sophomore Riley Johnson pitched seven innings and struck out a career-high nine batters as the North Dakota State University baseball team defeated the Fort Wayne Mastodons, 2-1, in the series opener of a three-game Summit League series Friday, March 23, at Mastodon Field.

North Dakota State (9-11, 2-2 Summit League) and Fort Wayne (4-13, 0-4 Summit League) are slated to play game two of the series Saturday, March 24, at 2 p.m. ET.

Johnson, a 6-foot-4 right-hander from Apple Valley, Minn., earned his third win of the season and improved to 3-3 on the mound after firing seven scoreless innings on exactly 100 pitches. He scattered seven hits and compiled just two walks while tallying nine strikeouts to eclipse his previous career-best of eight Ks set earlier this season in his no-hitter against Central Connecticut State.

Senior closer Kevin Folman secured his team-high third save of 2018 after giving up one earned run on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts in two innings of relief.

NDSU and Fort Wayne were locked in a pitching battle until the Bison broke through with a run in the top of the sixth inning.

Sophomore Bennett Hostetler hit a one-out triple to right field before scoring on Mason Pierzchalski's sacrifice fly, giving North Dakota State a 1-0 lead.

NDSU tacked on another run in the top of the eighth after Matt Elsenpeter crossed home plate on Jayse McLean's sacrifice fly, increasing the Bison lead to 2-0.

Hostetler, Elsenpeter and Tucker Rohde each tallied two hits, leading North Dakota State in the batter's box.

Shannon Baker went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double to pace Fort Wayne offensively.

Mastodon starter Brandon Phelps (2-2) suffered the loss after allowing one earned run on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk in seven innings.