GRAND FORKS, N.D.— A five-run first inning propelled visiting Grand Canyon past North Dakota, 7-3, Sunday afternoon in the finale of a Western Athletic Conference series at Kraft Field. The Antelopes held on, getting three key double play balls to help end UND rallies.
“Patrick Riewer's adrenaline was pumping today and he gave us everything he had today,” UND head coach Jeff Dodson said. “I thought he settled in nicely, but it's tough to recover from a five spot against a good team, especially in the first inning. We're hoping Alex Twenge can give us a good start tomorrow against South Dakota State and get us a win heading into the weekend at Sacramento State.”
UND (10-26, 8-13 WAC) was nearly out of the first inning unscathed after a would-be double play would have ended the threat. Instead, Chad De La Guerra just beat out the relay to first and GCU (28-20, 17-7) strung together five runs and six hits in that first inning with all of the runs coming with two outs.
North Dakota got one back in the first when Jeff Campbell tripled home Tyler Follis, who reached on reached on a bunt single. Senior Taylor Petersen added another UND run in the third on his fourth homer of the season, a no-doubter that hung in the pine trees beyond the wall in left for a 5-2 score.
In the sixth, the 'Lopes got a run on a double-play grounder before UND scored in the bottom of the frame as well. Follis singled up the middle to start the inning and later came around to score on Petersen's sharp single to left and it was 6-3 Grand Canyon.
The Lopes added an insurance run in the eighth inning off the UND bullpen. North Dakota had two on with none out in the ninth thanks to a pair of walks, but the third double play of the game turned by the Antelopes watered down the rally and GCU earned the sweep to remain in second place in the WAC heading into the final weekend.
Follis, Petersen and Dalton Parrott each collected two hits for North Dakota. Riewer's final pitching line read 6.1 innings with 11 hits, six runs and four strikeouts with four walks. Reid Jungling and Jeff Campbell compbined to throw the final 2.1 innings with one run allowed on two hits.
North Dakota concludes its home schedule Monday with a non-conference tilt against South Dakota State. Game time is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at Kraft Field.
