CAPE CORAL, FL -- The University of North Dakota baseball team opened up its season with a 6-5 loss to ninth-ranked Ashland University. UND falls to 0-1 on the young season.
The Fighting Sioux got on the board first in the top of the third inning. With one out in the top of the third, Bo Stanley doubled to left-centerfield, Tyler Frenzel was hit-by-a-pitch and then Scott Schmidt singled to give the Fighting Sioux a 1-0 lead. The Sioux then loaded the bases on a single by Nate Meissner, but the threat was ended with consecutive strikeouts from Chris Gulsvig and Tim Burns.
Ashland scattered four hits and scored two runs in the fourth inning to take the 2-1 lead from the Sioux.
In the top of the fifth inning, Bo Stanley again got the Sioux offense rolling by leading off with a single. Tyler Frenzel was hit-by-a-pitch again and Scott Schmidt reached on a throwing error from Ashland pitcher Matt Schultz to load the bases. Nate Meissner hit a double to left field to score Stanley and Frenzel which gave the Fighting Sioux a 3-2 lead. Chris Gulsvig hit a sacrifice fly to right-centerfield to score Schmidt from third and to extend the lead to 4-2.
Ashland's Casey Jirsa would tie the game on a two-run homerun in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game up 4-4.
In the top of the eighth inning, North Dakota answered back with three consecutive singles to take back the 5-4 lead. But, in the bottom of the eighth inning, Ashland University loaded the bases and got a two-run single Justin Richards to give Ashland the 6-5 lead and the victory.
Nate Meissner and Bo Stanley led the Sioux offense with three hits apiece. Meissner had two RBI's in the contest. Scott Schmidt, Stanley, and Chris Gulsvig each had an RBI apiece.
Pitcher Sean Cooley pitched an excellent 6 1/3 innings. Cooley struck out three and gave up no walks in the contest while keeping the ninth-ranked Eagles off-balance. Reliever Michael Lueck is credited for the loss after giving up two runs on one hit while striking out one and walking two.
The Sioux return to action on Sunday against Mansfield University. The two teams will face off in a doubleheader and the game times are set for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. (CST).
