NDSU Baseball Comeback Falls Short Against Creighton in NCAA Regional, 11-10

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The North Dakota State baseball team erased a seven-run deficit before falling short against third-seeded Creighton, 11-10, in an elimination game on Sunday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium.

Creighton (43-15) scored in each of the first four innings, including five runs in the third to open up a 10-3 edge with a home run off the bat of Teddy Deters in the fourth inning. Dante Smith helped spark the Bison (21-34) with an RBI single in the sixth before Davis Hamilton capped the inning with a three-run home run to deep right field to cut the deficit to 10-7.

After Hayden Sylte sent the Bluejays down in order in the seventh, Smith once again connected on a two-run double down the right field line to pull the Bison back within one, 10-9. Hamilton then followed it up with an RBI single of his own lock the contest, 10-10, in the eighth. Creighton responded in the ninth with RBI single down the first base line to seal the 11-10 walk-off win.

The Bison totaled 11 hits as a team with Hamilton and Smith combining for seven. Hamilton went 4-of-5 at the plate with five RBI and one run, while Smith added three hits, three runs and four RBI to his stat line. Sam Canton also contributed two hits, including a solo home run in the second inning.

The Bison pitching staff used five different pitchers with Parker Puetz making the start with three strikeouts over 2.2 innings. Sylte worked 2.2 scoreless frames allowing one hit with one strikeout and Danny Lachenmayer (2-4) closed out the final frame on the mound.

NDSU finished the season making its third overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament and first under fourth-year head coach Tyler Oakes. It marked their second straight appearance winning at least one game after picking up their first victory in 2021.