NDSU Baseball Downs Northern Colorado in Series Opener, 11-3

FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State baseball team topped Northern Colorado, 11-3, in the series opener at Newman Outdoor Field on Thursday night.

After NDSU (13-20, 10-5 Summit) stole a 2-1 edge in the fifth inning on an RBI single off the bat of Jake Schaffner, the Bison erupted with four runs on five hits in the sixth to stretch their lead to 6-1 after another RBI single from Schaffner. NDSU then cracked the game open in the eighth pushing across five more runs on six hits to increase its lead to 11-3. Blake Timmons started the frame with his first career hit and home run, before Davis Hamilton and Colten Becker each added an RBI single. Hamilton later scored on a wild pitch and Sam Canton capped the inning with an RBI single up the middle. NDSU went on to hold off Northern Colorado (11-24, 4-12 Summit) the rest of the way for the 11-3 win.

The Bison totaled 15 hits as a team with Schaffner leading the way with three hits, two RBI and one run. Hamilton also went 3-of-5 at the plate with two runs and one RBI.

Nolan Johnson (4-4) made the start and tossed seven strikeouts with no walks over 6.0 innings. Sam Roberts, Skyler Riedinger and Reese Ligtenberg also appeared for 1.0 innings each and two strikeouts apiece.

NDSU will continue its series with Northern Colorado tomorrow with first pitch moved up to 3:00 p.m., at Newman Outdoor Field.