GRAND FORKS, N.D. – A two-run, ninth-inning rally propelled North Dakota State to a 4-3 victory over North Dakota in the series finale at Kraft Field on Sunday. The Bison (18-5) had just five hits up until their last at-bat, but managed to get four in the ninth to secure their school record 12th-straight victory and a series sweep.

UND (2-16) dropped its sixth straight despite an outstanding relief effort by freshman Brett DeGagne' (Sauk Rapids, Minn.). The right-hander entered the game with the bases loaded and one out in the third with his team trailing 2-0. He quickly got out of that jam with a double-play ball, then allowed only two hits over the next five innings of work.

“Brett threw tremendous and he was the guy we wanted out there in the ninth inning,” UND head coach Jeff Dodson said. “They got a couple of seeing-eye singles, then got a big hit there in the ninth to put them back in the lead, but I thought we played a much better overall game today.” 

DeGagne' started the ninth for the Soiux, but centerfielder Tim Colwell, who led off the game with a solo home run, began the rally by pushing a chopper through the middle to put the leadoff man on for the Bison. His brother, Nick, then sent a well-placed grounder through the left side of the infield to put a pair of runners on.

After a fly ball moved the younger Colwell to third with one out, second baseman Wes Satzinger pushed a bunt past a charging DeGagne' to tie the game at 3-3.  Redshirt freshman Brock Johnson (Detroit Lakes, Minn.) relieved DeGagne' after that play and surrendered a sharp single to center off the bat of Nick Anderson that provided the game-winning run for the visitors.

Right-hander Kyle Klingsley set the Sioux down in order in the ninth to register his second save of the season. 

The Sioux rallied from a deficit of their own to take their first lead of the series at 3-2 in the seventh. Redshirt freshman Mark Bearmon (St. Louis, Minn.) came through with the big two-out hit on a full-count pitch. Shortstop Tyler Follis (Bemidji, Minn.) scored on the play after picking his third hit of the game in the frame.

UND held an 8-4 advantage in hits going into the final frame before the Bison offense came to life.  Senior Kyle Bolander (Hermantown, Minn.) added a pair of hits and scored in the sixth after hitting his second double of the season.

Freshmen Jeff Campbell (Clearwater, Fla.) and Sam Alt (Lino Lakes, Minn.) added sacrifice flies in the contest. For Campbell, the RBI was his fourth of the series, while Alt's was the first of his career and tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth.

DeGagne' worked a career-long six innings, allowing only five hits and striking out three. Left-hander Jake Heck (1-0) earned his first victory of the season by pitching a scoreless eighth inning.

UND opens a Great West Conference play with a four-game series at Utah Valley on Thursday. First pitch is at 7 p.m. CT.

 

– UND –