OMAHA, Neb. — It took a long day to get it done but the North Dakota State baseball team is the Summit League champion.
The Bison rebounded in the double-elimination tournament from a 15-5 loss in Game 1 to defeat Oral Roberts 11-6 in the deciding game Saturday night at Tal Anderson Field.
The Bison are now 41-17 and earned an automatic qualifier to the College World Series. They also set the school record for single-season victories.
The College World Series' 64-team field will be announced Monday, May 31.
In Game 2, the Bison surged ahead by seven runs through 5-1/2 innings but Oral Roberts scored three in the bottom of the sixth to close the gap. NDSU reliever Parker Harm took it from there, allowing just a hit in three scoreless innings to close out the victory.
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NDSU's Jake Malec was 3-for-4 with a double and he drove in three runs, Charley Hesse was 2-for-4, homered, had two RBI and scored three runs, and Tucker Rohde was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
Tristen Roehrich started and allowed three runs on eight hits in five innings. Jake Drew relieved and ran into trouble in the sixth, allowing the three Golden Eagles runs. Harm got through the final three innings on 32 pitches and struck out three.
In Game 1, the Bison trailed 4-3 after six but Oral Roberts scored seven in the seventh to all but seal the deal.
Hesse and Nick Emanuel both drove in two runs and Malec had two hits.
