(NDSU Athletics) COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The North Dakota State baseball team topped South Dakota State, 10-2, before falling in game two of the doubleheader, 9-8, on Friday afternoon at Doc Ross Field.
After SDSU (6-15, 2-3 Summit) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the opening inning of the first game, NDSU (6-20, 3-2 Summit) responded in the third scoring three runs on two hits to steal the edge, 3-1. Terrell Huggins sparked the Bison with an RBI single into left center before Peter Brookshaw capped the inning with a two-run home run.
Following a scoreless fourth frame, NDSU continued to apply pressure adding on four more runs on two hits to increase its lead to 7-1. Huggins started the inning with a two-run double and then later scored on a wild pitch. Brookshaw finished the stanza stealing third and advancing home on a throwing error.
The Jackrabbits attempted to make a comeback in the eighth scoring a run on an RBI single, but left the bases loaded after Skyler Riedinger ended the inning with a strikeout. James Dunlap then put the game out of reach cracking a two-run single into left field in the ninth to make the score 10-2. NDSU went on to win the series opener, 10-2.
The Bison compiled 10 hits as a team with four different players contributing at least two. Brookshaw paced the Bison with a game-high three runs to go along with two hits, two RBI and two stolen bases. Huggins also contributed a game-high three RBI with two hits and two runs.
Cade Feeney (2-3) picked up the win tossing a team-high five strikeouts over 6.0 innings. Riedinger finished the final 2.2 innings with three strikeouts without allowing a run.
Following a scoreless opening frame in game two of the doubleheader, SDSU pushed across five runs on two hits to open up a 5-0 advantage. Druw Sackett responded in the third chipping the deficit down to three, 5-2, following a two-run home run to left field.
NDSU continued to ride momentum into the fourth scoring three runs on three hits to tie the contest, 5-5. Dunlap started the frame with a solo home run to center field and Davis Hamilton followed it up with an RBI double. Cadyn Schwabe finished the inning with an RBI ground out to score Hamilton.
The Jackrabbits answered back in the bottom portion of the fourth using an RBI sacrifice fly to score a runner to regain the lead, 6-5. The game then went scoreless for three innings until Garret Hill drove a clutch RBI single up the middle to tie the game, 6-6, in the eighth.
The Jackrabbits once again responded in the eighth with a three-run home run to steal the lead, 9-6. Stephen Lund attempted to get a late rally going in the ninth with a two-run home run to pull the Bison back within one, 9-8. However, Dunlap then flied out to center field and the Bison dropped the contest, 9-8.
NDSU totaled nine hits as team with Jack Steil notching a team-best two to go along with two runs.
Max Loven made the start on the mound tossing two strikeouts over 3.0 innings. Carson Jacobs also appeared for 3.0 innings with a team-best four strikeouts, while Nolan Johnson (1-1) picked up the loss with one strikeout over 1.1 innings.
NDSU and SDSU will conclude the series tomorrow in Omaha, Neb. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m., at Tal Anderson Field.
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