NDSU ATHLETICS FAYETTVILLE, Arkansas (KNFL/KFGO) – The North Dakota State baseball team upended second-seeded Kansas, 4-3, in an NCAA Regional elimination game on Saturday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium.
With the win, the Bison (21-33) earned their second NCAA Division I Tournament win in program history and first since the 2021 season. It also marks the first NCAA Tournament victory under fourth-year head coach Tyler Oakes. NDSU will be back in action tomorrow in an elimination game at 2:00 p.m. CT at Baum-Walker Stadium. The Bison will face the loser of the top-seeded Arkansas and third-seeded Creighton matchup.
For the second straight day, Sam Canton got the Bison off to a quick start after he connected on a double to score Davis Hamilton on an error. Colten Becker then followed it up with an RBI single to center field to extend the early lead to 2-0 in the first inning.
Following two scoreless frames, Kansas (43-17) used a two-run home run to deep left field off the bat of Jackson Hauge to tie the game, 2-2, in the fourth inning. Blake Timmons responded for the Bison after he sent an RBI single down the right side to regain the lead, 3-2. Evan Gustafson then extended the edge with an RBI double into right center to make score 4-2 in the fifth inning. After the Jayhawks, who entered the tournament ranked No. 23 in the USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll, plated a run in the sixth inning, Danny Lachenmayer closed out the final 2.2 innings with three strikeouts to secure the 4-3 victory.
The Bison totaled nine hits as a team with Canton, Becker, Gustafson and Alex Urlaub each contributing two. Canton led the way going 2-of-3 at the plate with two runs.
Logan Knight (5-6) made the start tossing three strikeouts with one walk over 6.1 innings. Lachenmayer picked up his ninth save with three strikeouts over 2.2 scoreless innings. His nine saves rank fourth on the NDSU single-season list. Lachenmayer has also held opponents scoreless over his last five appearances.
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