FAST START, BULLPEN KEY SERIES-CLINCHING WIN

Sunday, April 27

Brookings, S.D.

1 p.m.

South Dakota State University

12-28, 8-12

North Dakota State

14-26, 11-10

North Dakota State

South Dakota State

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

4/27/2025 5:34:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

South Dakota State scored four first-inning runs and received strong pitching from its bullpen in recording a 9-6, series-clinching victory over North Dakota State in Summit League baseball action Sunday afternoon at Erv Huether Field.

In winning three of four games in the weekend series, the Jackrabbits improved to 12-28 overall and 8-12 in The Summit League. NDSU dropped to 14-26 overall and 11-10 in league play.

After back-to-back bunt singles to open the game, the Bison put the first run on the board on a sacrifice fly by Sam Canton after the second of two sliding and diving catches in the inning by SDSU right fielder Jess Bellows.

SDSU quickly responded by taking advantage of a pair of walks in the first inning. Carter Sintek scored the first Jackrabbit run on an RBI groundout by Owen Siegert and Adam Benes followed two batters later with a three-run home run to left field off Bison starter Leland Wilson.

NDSU drew back to within a run in the top of the third, chasing Jackrabbit starter Reece Arbogast after two walks and singles by Dante Smith and Davis Hamilton, the latter base hit of which scored Jake Schaffner. Ty Madison then entered the game for SDSU with the bases loaded and nobody out, but was able to minimize the damage by allowing only one more run to score on a groundout.

Madison would go on to pitch two more scoreless innings as the Jackrabbits built their lead to 7-3 with a run in the home half of the third and two more runs in the fourth. Luke Luskey doubled and scored on a Bryce Ronken single for the third-inning run, while Nic Werk and Luskey notched run-scoring hits in the fourth inning.

Sam Schlecht added 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief before allowing a solo home run to Canton in the seventh as the Bison mounted a comeback in the late innings. NDSU drew to within 7-6 with two more runs in the eighth on a home run by Jake Schaffner off reliever Tristan Augedahl.

With the tying run at second base with two outs in the eighth, Jackrabbit closer Dylan Driessen entered for his third appearance of the series and induced a groundout to end the rally.

As they did in the series opener, the Jackrabbits added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. After Benes and Bellows were each hit by a pitch, Davis Carr and Sintek each tallied run-scoring singles.

Driessen came back out for the top of the ninth and, after issuing a leadoff walk, struck out each of the next three hitters to secure his second save of the series and fifth of the season.

Madison was credited with the win after allowing only one hit in three shutout innings. He struck out three, walked one and surrendered only one hit in improving to 2-2 on the season.

Luskey and Ronken each finished with two of the Jackrabbits' eight hits. Dante Smith led NDSU's 11-hit effort with three hits.

UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits close out their longest homestand of the season by hosting Northern Colorado in a three-game series May 2-4. Friday's first pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Erv Huether Field.

NOTES

SDSU and NDSU each won three games in the regular season series
The Jackrabbits lead the all-time series, 134-88
SDSU improved to 9-4 on its home field
Driessen now has 42 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings pitched this season
Madison made his second appearance of the series and team-leading 16^th of the season
Ronken reached base safely for the 19^th consecutive game, tying him with Nolan Grawe for the longest streak by a Jackrabbit player in 2025