Baseball
The North Dakota State men’s baseball team opened its season with a pair of thrilling wins in a doubleheader sweep over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Parker Trewin was trusted to open the year for the Bison, and he did not disappoint in his first action since early last year. Trewin struck out four and pitched four scoreless innings. Brian VanderWoude came in relief, doubling down and pitching another four scoreless innings and striking out three.
The Bison entered the ninth in a 0-0 tie until Ben Petersen doubled down the line for only the Bison’s third hit. He came around to score on a bases-loaded double play by pinch hitter Taylor Sanders. Immediately following the double play, Ciji Ramos came into pitch and threw a wild pitch that allowed Brayden Resch to score.
Sean Terres slammed the door shut in the ninth behind two strike outs for his first save of the year.
In the second game, the Bison found themselves behind by three early on, before the team dropped four runs in the top of the third. Fueled behind a three-run homer by Resch, the Bison found themselves up 5-4. After back-and-forth see-sawing between the two teams, they entered extra frames all knotted at 7-7.
The Bison got the game winning sacrifice fly from Juan Gamez; Gamez pitched in three RBI. Luke Lind pitched an uneventful ninth, and the Bison held onto the 8-7 win. Lind got his first win of the year behind a strong effort that saw him only give up three hits while striking out five in four and 2/3 innings.
Softball
The North Dakota State women’s softball team grabbed two wins over Saint Mary’s and the University of Stanford.
In the first game against Saint Mary’s, Jacquelyn Sertic pitched a gem; she went all seven innings and only gave up one run and four hits while striking out three. This win evened her record at 2-2. Logan Moreland and Cheyenne Garcia combined to go 6-6 with three runs and three RBI. Garcia hit her first double of the year and added a stolen base.
In the second game against the University of Stanford, the bats came alive as the Bison dealt the Cards with a flurry of hits and runs. The Bison won 9-1. In the fifth inning, they sent 10 different batters to the plate as they scored six runs on only three hits and two walks. They were aided by a fielders choice, an error from the shortstop, a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch.
KK Leddy went five strong innings behind the offensive jolt and she struck out two. She gave up four hits and two walks but limited the Cardinals to only one run. She is also at 2-2 on the year.