BROOKINGS, S.D. – The North Dakota State baseball team dropped the series finale at South Dakota State, 9-6, on Sunday afternoon at Erv Huether Field.

After South Dakota State (12-28, 8-12 Summit) built a 7-3 advantage over the first six frames, Sam Canton attempted to rally the Bison (14-26, 11-10 Summit) with a solo home run to left field to cut the edge to 7-4 in the seventh. Jake Schaffner followed it up with another home run to left field in the eighth inning. The two-run shot pulled the Bison back within one, 7-6. However, the Jackrabbits responded with a pair of RBI singles in the eighth to push their edge back up to 9-6. NDSU wasn't able to get anything going over the final frame and dropped the series finale, 9-6.

NDSU totaled 11 hits as a team with four players contributing at least two. Schaffner posted two hits with three runs and two RBI, while Dante Smith tallied three hits with one run.

Leland Wilson (0-3) made the start on the mound, while Reese Ligtenberg provided a career-long 3.1 scoreless innings of relief work with three strikeouts and one walk.

NDSU will be back in action at Minnesota on Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.