Bison Sports Update: May 26th

Well, this will be the final Bison Sports Update of the 2022-23 academic year.

Baseball
NDSU Baseball played in the Summit League tournament over at Newman Outdoor Field this week.
​They started with the second game of the opening day hosting 3rd seeded South Dakota State again. This one was not the day for the Bison, they lost in a blowout 17-4 decision. They slid to the elimination game against 4th seeded Omaha. NDSU played a good game overall, until pitchers came in to relieve Roehrich. After that everything fell apart. What was a 5-1 lead when Tristen headed to the bench, it was just a 6-5 lead heading into the bottom of the 9th inning. After loading the bases, Omaha hit in one runner to tie the game. But somehow, the Bison got out of the inning and into extras. No runs were scored in the 10th and 11th innings, however the Bison got two on base in both innings. In the 12th inning, things changed. NDSU started with their first two batters getting on base, one with a hit and the other with a walk. Then they got lucky on an error by the pitcher to load the bases. After that, the Bison got one good hit to left center field that scored the winning run. Parker Puetz cleaned up in the bottom of 12 to seal the win and move on to the semifinal round. Unfortunately blowing a lead and using 4 relievers isn't great in the middle of a tournament. NDSU had hardly any pitchers left for Friday's elimination game against SDSU and gave up a lot of runs by the 7th inning, 8-0. The Bison managed to rally in 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th, but that was all they could manage and lost 8-2. 
Not exactly the kind of season the Bison had hoped for, the first half of it was largely marred in close but not close enough. Then they seemed to figure it out, winning 12 of their last 15 games to close the regular season. But uncharacteristic errors and untimely pitching use drove the Bison out of the Summit League tournament to be eliminated in the semifinal round for the second straight season. It doesn't get any easier either, Oral Roberts won the regular season crown, so they will host next year's tournament. Speaking of the Golden Eagles, they seem to be cruising towards another tournament crown and NCAA berth, but what else is new. It would be their 21st tournament berth if they do indeed win.

North Dakota State Baseball finishes the season with a 16-7 record in Summit League play, and a 23-30 record overall.

This concludes my coverage of the Bison for the 2022-23 academic year. Thank you to all those that came here to read my ramblings and spats, you don't know how much an impact you make. I will be back towards the end of the summer to preview the Fall sports season, which is all shaken up with the recent departure of Western Illinois, but I am sure they will figure it all out by then. 

Until next time NDSU fans,

​Go Bison!!