NDSU

2008 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Started 28 games at designated hitter...NDSU’s third leading hitter with a .284 average and three home runs in 32 games...Hit .367 in home games...Went 7-for-13 in three games against the Minnesota Gophers...Hit the game-winning home run with two outs in the 10th inning of a 5-4 win in the second game of the series at the Metrodome...Made 10 pitching appearances including seven starts...Had a 2-5 record and 10.32 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 34 innings...Pitched 7 1/3 innings of relief for a 5-3 victory against Cleveland State...Season-high five strikeouts in his other win against the University of Mary...2007 SEASON (FRESHMAN): Started 32 of 42 games played...NDSU’s third leading hitter with a .281 batting average...Nine extra-base hits including five doubles and three homers...Drove in 18 runs...Posted a 5.48 ERA in 14 relief appearances...Struck out 17 batters in 21 1/3 innings...Had an 0-2 record with losses at Iowa (3/23) and at Northern Iowa (4/20)...INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE: Played left field in three games for the South African national team in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, batting .222 (2-for-9) with two runs scored...Pitched in the 2005 World Cup, working 9 2/3 innings with a 3.72 ERA...Returned to World Cup action in 2007 as the starting pitcher against Japan and Team USA...Allowed two earned runs in five innings against the U.S. and was the pitcher of record in a 4-2 loss...Competed with the South Africa junior national squad in tournaments in the United States, Germany, Taiwan, Taipei, Italy and The Netherlands...One of five South African juniors invited to the 2005 Major League Baseball training academy in Trieste, Italy...PERSONAL: Graduated in 2005 from Fairmont High School in Durbanville, South Africa...Attracted to NDSU for its engineering program...Current major is exercise science with a minor in psychology...Son of Anthony and Florinda Ekermans of Kenridge, South Africa...Family includes a sister, Simone.