Game 1 Box Score (PDF) / Game 2 Box Score (PDF)
GREELEY, Colo. – On the final day of the three-game series against Northern Colorado, the North Dakota State baseball team picked up a doubleheader split with the Bears.
Northern Colorado (2-7) scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning of the first game for a 3-1 victory, while the North Dakota State (2-8) bats came alive in the finale for an 11-5 Bison victory. Both games of the doubleheader were seven innings. The series was moved up a day, with the games on Saturday and Sunday being canceled.
The lone Bison run in the opener came in the third inning, as Peter Brookshaw reached on an error that allowed Jake Malec to score. Northern Colorado tied the game in the fourth inning before scoring the two runs in the sixth for the win.
Max Loven went the distance for the Bison on the mound, giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits. Loven didn't allow a walk and struck out six, as he dropped to 0-1 on the year.
NDSU scored at least two runs in five of the seven innings, including three runs in the top of the seventh. The Bison struck early with two runs in the top of the first. Brookshaw doubled to left field to drive in Bennett Hostetler before Brock Anderson singled to right center to plate Brookshaw.
Northern Colorado responded with three runs in the bottom of the first, but NDSU regained the lead for good in the top of the third. Another double by Brookshaw to drive in Hostetler started the scoring before Hunter Koep doubled in Brookshaw. In the fifth inning, Koep hit his first home run of the season to center field before Charley Hesse drove in Anderson with a sacrifice fly.
The Bears added a run in the bottom of the fifth, but NDSU quickly answered with two more runs in the sixth. Brookshaw scored on a throwing error before Anderson scored on a passed ball. In the seventh inning, Hostetler singled to left field to drive in Hesse before Alec Abercrombie tripled to right center to plate Hostetler and Malec for the final runs of the game.
Hostetler, Brookshaw and Anderson each had three hits for the Bison, while Hostetler and Brookshaw each scored three times. Brookshaw, Abercrombie and Koep each drove in two runs.
Alec Holcomb earned the win in 2.1 innings of relief work. Holcomb struck out five and allowed a hit. Jordan Harms gave up an unearned run on one hit and four strikeouts in 1.2 innings of work before turning things over to Gabe Pilla for the final 2.2 innings. Pilla gave up a run on two hits.
The Bison return to action on Friday, March 8, as they start a four-game series at Mississippi Valley State.
