The Bison Baseball team took on Creighton University for a quick one game set Tuesday night.
Freshman Garret Shupe took the mound to start for NDSU. After getting the first hitter of the night out, Dakota Duffalo would get the first hit of the night for Creighton, a one out single. Duffalo would advance to third base just a batter later when Nolan Sailors doubled down the left field line, to bring two runners into scoring position. After getting the second out of the frame, Shupe would give up a walk to load the bases for the Blue Jays. The next batter, Kyle Hess would take the second walk in a row for Creighton, to drive in a run the easy way, giving the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead after one inning.
To start the second inning, the Bison would have a new pitcher on the mound, in Leland Wilson. Wilson would start his appearance off with a foul out, before putting some traffic on the basepaths, letting up a double and a walk. Wilson would eventually pitch out of the trouble, getting a pop-out to the second baseman.
NDSU would mount a quick two-out rally in the top of the third inning. After Luis Garcia bunted into a double play, Jake Schaffner would double and steal third to bring up Davis Hamilton. With a 2-2 count, Hamilton would shoot a ball to the first basemen, who mishandled the ball, allowing for Hamilton to reach first safely, scoring Schaffner, tying the game up at one apiece after two and a half innings.
This contest would remain tied at 1-1 until the sixth inning. Creighton would bring in Shae Wendt in relief for Noah Klein, who pitched five innings of one run ball. Wendt would walk his first batter in Colten Becker, who would advance to second base after Sam Canton was hit by a pitch. Wendt would be taken out in favor of left-handed reliever Shane Curtin. Curtin would immediately be greeted by a single back up the middle from Luke Shannahan. The base hit would bring in Becker, giving NDSU a 2-1 lead. Curtin would get the next three Bison hitters out, to get out of the inning, only down one run.
Seth Thompson would start the bottom of the sixth on the mound for the Bison, relieving Reese Ligtenberg. Creighton would put their first two hitters on the basepaths from a single and a hit- by-pitch. After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, the Blue Jays would tie this contest back up at two each through six, via a sacrifice-fly from Tate Gillen. NDSU would put the go-ahead run on third base with two out in the top of the eight, but Matthew Aukerman would get Alex Urlaub to strikeout, keeping the game tied.
In the top of the ninth inning, the Blue Jays would get the first two outs on strikeouts. Davis Hamilton would extend the inning by hitting a single to left field. After Hamilton moved to second base on a wild pitch, the Blue Jays would intentionally walk NDSU’s Colten Becker to set up a force play. Sam Canton would step up to the plate and rope a ball past the diving second baseman, bringing home Hamilton, but on the play, Colten Becker would be called out at home after review trying to score from first base. Canton’s RBI single would give NDSU a one run lead going to the bottom of the ninth.
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Danny Lachenmayer would get the call to close this one out for the Bison in the bottom of the ninth. After hitting the lead off batter with a pitch, Lachenmayer would regain composure, getting the next three hitters out, securing the 3-2 W for the Bison. The Bison used eight different arms Tuesday night. Cade Wiegert picked up his first win on the mound wearing the green and gold, after he pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth. Danny Lachenmayer notched his fifth save of the 25’ campaign.
NDSU’s offense collected six hits Tuesday night. Sam Canton and Luke Shannahan picked up the two RBI’s for NDSU.
The win tonight brings NDSU to 10-18 on the season. The Bison will be back playing in Fargo on Friday, April 11th, opening up a three game Summit League series against St. Thomas. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
*This article was written by Flag Family Media intern Cayden Lloyd*
