BROOKINGS, S.D. –  The North Dakota State baseball team plated five runs in the fifth inning to top South Dakota State, 8-3, on Friday afternoon at Erv Huether Field.

After both teams battled through four scoreless innings, NDSU (24-13, 12-4 Summit) came alive in the fifth with five runs on six hits. Druw Sackett opened the frame blasting a two RBI double into left center to make the score 2-0. Peter Brookshaw followed it up with an RBI double of his own to left center to increase the lead to 3-0. Logan Williams and Cadyn Schwabe finished the big inning after they both connected on RBI singles into left to push the edge up to 5-0.

Brookshaw kept the momentum rolling with an RBI single into center field to extend the lead to 6-0 in the sixth. The Jackrabbits (16-18, 7-6 Summit) pushed back in the bottom half with one run following an RBI double off the bat of Drew Beazley. Williams added insurance for NDSU in the eighth with a two RBI single to left to stretch the edge to 8-1. SDSU made one final surge in the ninth after Beazley sent a two RBI home run to left, but Skyler Riedinger closed out the frame with one strikeout to help secure the 8-3 victory.

NDSU totaled 14 hits as team with Brookshaw going 3-of-5 at the plate with two RBI and two runs. Sackett also went 3-of-5 with two RBI and a run, while Williams added a game-high three RBI with two hits and a run.

Max Loven (6-4) tossed seven strikeouts over 7.0 innings with one walk. It marked his seventh game this season with four or more strikeouts. Riedinger finished the final 2.0 innings with two strikeouts.

NDSU will back in action tomorrow against South Dakota State. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.