The North Dakota State Bison traveled to Omaha to take on the Mavericks in a three-game series this past weekend. The two teams each won a game with the rubber match on Sunday.
NDSU lost game one of the series 10-0 in a seven-inning contest. The Mavericks outhit the Bison 16-2.
The game set up as a pitcher duel. UNO’s Corey Binger sits third the Summit League in strikeouts, and he baffled Bison batters all game long. The same could not be said of the league leader in that category, NDSU’s Luke Lind.
The senior right-hander Lind took the loss on the mound giving up seven runs, six earned, on 10 hits with five strikeouts and two walks in 4 1/3 innings of work.
Junior Drew Fearing and senior Ben Petersen were the ones to record the hits for the Bison with each hitting a single.
Omaha’s outfielder Marcus Ethen and catcher Nate Mallot each finished the game with three hits to lead the Mavericks at the plate.
Binger pitched a complete gaming shutout, allowing two hits and three strikeouts and no walks to earn the win on the mound.
The Bison turned things around on Saturday as they defeated the Mavericks in a shutout victory 1-0. With the win, the Bison improve to 10-15 on the season and 3-5 in the Summit League. The Mavericks meanwhile fell to 6-20 on the season and 4-4 in Summit League play.
NDSU senior right-handed starter Reed Pfannensein earned the victory on the mound throwing 7 2/3 scoreless innings on three hits with one strikeout and one walk. Bison reliever Kevin Folman recorded his team-best third save of the season allowing one hit on 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Folman’s save also puts him one off the league lead in the category.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Bison turned on the small ball.
Logan Busch worked a lead-off walk before Bennett Hostetler reached base on an Omaha throwing error, advancing Busch to second. Carter Thompson advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt. Danny Palmiscno finally drove Busch home with a ground out to third.
That run was all Pfannesnsein needed to hold the Mavericks back.
Mavericks’ Adam Caniglia recorded two hits to lead Omaha in the batter’s box.
Omaha starter Sam Murphy took the loss for the Mavericks, giving up one unearned run on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks in six innings pitched.
NDSU finished the series Sunday.
The Bison will open up their home schedule with a 13-game home stand starting off against Minot State Wednesday followed by a three-game series against South Dakota State starting Friday.
The Bison will hit the road for just two more series, finishing with 20 of the final 26 games at home.