Jackrabbits beat Bison in series finale to avoid sweep

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FARGO, N.D. – Ethan Kenkel pitched six-plus shutout innings and South Dakota State scored the lone run of the game in the third inning as the Jackrabbits salvaged the final game of a Summit League baseball series with a 1-0 victory Sunday afternoon at Newman Outdoor Field.

With the win, the Jackrabbits improved to 14-13 overall and took over sole possession of second place in the league standings with a 7-5 mark. NDSU dropped to 14-17 overall and 6-6 in The Summit League.

SDSU scored what proved to be the game-winning run with one out in the top of the third inning. Phil Velez led off the frame by being hit by a pitch. After Anthony Schneider flew out, Nick Smith slashed a double down the left-field line and into the corner. The ball was bobbled by the Bison outfielder, allowing Velez to score all the way from first base.

The Jackrabbits appeared on the verge of breaking the game open in the fourth, loading the bases with nobody out on a walk and back-to-back singles by Philip Jacobson and Landon Badger. However, NDSU starter Jordan Harms turned a line drive off the bat of Tony Kjolsing into a double play and then retired Velez to end the threat.

Meanwhile, SDSU starter Ethan Kenkel turned in his strongest performance in a Jackrabbit uniform. The senior right-hander from Storm Lake, Iowa, held NDSU to one hit through six innings, while striking out a career-best six batters. Kenkel came out to start the seventh inning, but exited after the first two men reached via a hit and hit batter.

Derek Feige worked out of the jam by striking out the first two Bison batters he faced, then, after an infield single loaded the bases, fanned Drew Fearing to strike out the side.

NDSU again placed two runners on the base in the eighth, but Feige, who ended his two-inning stint with four strikeouts, again prevented the Bison from scoring as a groundout ended the frame.

Chris Halbur pitched a perfect ninth inning to record his fifth save of the season.

Smith tallied a pair of doubles to be the only player with more than one hit. Each team finished with four hits.

Harms walked four, struck out three and gave up three hits in five innings. Parker Harm pitched the final four innings for NDSU, allowing only one hit and adding three strikeouts.

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The Jackrabbits are scheduled to play a non-conference game Tuesday at Creighton. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha.

Notes: SDSU won by a 1-0 score for the third time this season. ... The Jackrabbits now have four shutouts in 2017, compared to one last season. ... SDSU pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts, marking the eighth time this season in which the Jackrabbits have reached double figures for Ks in a game. ... Kenkel's six innings pitched marked his longest collegiate outing. ... Halbur has not allowed a run in 13 appearances, covering 18 innings, this season. ... Halbur's five saves are tied with three other pitchers for 10th-most in a season by a Jackrabbit pitcher.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 1, NORTH DAKOTA STATE 0

SDSU              001 000 000 – 1 4 0

NDSU             000 000 000 – 0 4 1

Ethan Kenkel, Derek Feige (7), Chris Halbur (9) and Luke Ringhofer; Jordan Harms, Parker Harm (6) and Danny Palmsicno. W – Kenkel (1-1). L – Harms (1-5). Sv – Halbur (5).

Saturday

• NDSU 4, SDSU 1

Reed Pfannenstein struck out eight batters as he pitched into the eighth inning, leading North Dakota State to its second consecutive 4-1 victory over South Dakota State in Summit League baseball action Saturday afternoon.

NDSU put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the second inning to crack the scoring column first. Bennett Hostetler drew a two-out walk issued by Jackrabbit starter Austin Kost and moved to second on Tucker Rohde's base hit through the right side. Hostetler came around to score on Danny Palmiscno's single to center field.

The Bison upped their lead to 3-0 with a two-run home half of the third. Ben Petersen tripled off the fence in left-center to score JT Core, with Petersen later crossing home plate on a sacrifice fly by Mason Pierzchalski.

Matt Johnson accounted for the lone Jackrabbit run of the game, launching his sixth home run of the season over the wall in right field with two outs in the fourth. Johnson's home run came immediately after NDSU turned one of its three double plays in the game.

NDSU answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth. Drew Fearing reached on one of three Jackrabbit errors in the game and scored when Pierzchalski plated his second run of the game with a base hit to center field.

Pfannenstein did not walk a batter, hit one and scattered five hits in 7 2/3 innings to earn his third victory of the season. Chris Choles recorded the final out of the eighth inning, while Kevin Folman closed out the Bison win with a scoreless ninth for his fifth save.

Kost fanned five and walked two over 4 2/3 innings for the Jackrabbits. Bryce Hanson and Hunter Even combined to pitch 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Hits were even at six per team. Anthony Schneider led SDSU with two hits, including a double, while Rohde collected a pair of hits for NDSU.

Notes: Matt Johnson's home run was the 20th of his career and his seventh career round-tripper off Bison pitching.

NORTH DAKOTA STATE 4, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 1

SDSU              000 100 000 – 1 6 3

NDSU             012 010 00x – 4 6 2

Austin Kost, Bryce Hanson (5), Hunter Even (8) and Luke Ringhofer; Reed Pfannenstein, Chris Choles (8), Kevin Folman (9) and Danny Palmiscno. W – Pfannenstein (3-4). L – Kost (1-5). Sv – Folman (5). 2B: SDSU, Anthony Schneider, Newt Johnson. 3B: NDSU, Ben Petersen. HR: SDSU, Matt Johnson (6).