The North Dakota State University (NDSU) baseball team lost both games of a doubleheader against South Dakota State on March 21 at Erv Huether Field in Brookings, South Dakota. The Bison fell 13-5 in the first game and 11-1 in the second.
These losses add to a challenging season for NDSU, which now holds a record of 4-19 overall and 1-5 in Summit League play. The Jackrabbits improved their record to 7-17 overall and 2-4 in the conference.
In the opening game, both teams combined for 24 hits over three hours. South Dakota State took an early lead with an RBI single from Nolan Grawe, but Kyle Law responded for NDSU with an inside-the-park home run that briefly put the Bison ahead. The Jackrabbits then scored eight unanswered runs, including a solo home run by Luke Luskey. Although NDSU attempted a comeback with a bases-loaded walk by Colten Becker and an RBI sacrifice fly from Law, Luskey’s three-run homer in the seventh inning secured the win for South Dakota State. Law led NDSU with four RBIs, tying his season best.
Brayden Marks started on the mound for NDSU in game one, pitching four innings with one strikeout. Matt Sargeant provided relief with three strikeouts over nearly two innings.
In game two, South Dakota State built an early lead and extended it through aggressive base running and timely hitting. Owen Siegert contributed a two-RBI single while Grawe stole home as part of a three-run fourth inning. Evan Gustafson hit his fifth home run of the season for NDSU in the seventh inning, but it was not enough to close the gap as the Bison managed only five hits. Caleb Corbin went two-for-four at bat with a leadoff double.
Jonah Walker started for NDSU in game two, recording one strikeout over three innings before Zak Szabo added two more strikeouts in relief.
NDSU is scheduled to return to action on Friday when they host Oral Roberts at Newman Outdoor Field.
