NDSU Baseball Prepares to Host ORU
THE BISON LEAD THE SEASON SERIES 2-1.
FARGO, N.D. (KVRR)–The North Dakota State baseball team enters the weekend 7-5 in Summit League play. The Bison are coming off a series with against Colorado College last weekend and now welcome in last year’s Summit League Champion, Oral Roberts.
Though the Golden Eagles won the Summit League a season ago, the team has started league play cold sitting in dead last at 4-10-1. ORU and NDSU met earlier this season and the Herd won the series two games to one and will look to replicate that success this weekend at Newman Outdoor Field.
“It is almost so long ago now being 3-4 weeks ago,” said head coach Tyler Oakes on playing ORU this weekend. “I thought we battled some adversity early in that series with one of our starting pitchers going down on Friday. Battling back after a Friday loss to win the next two is huge. I think it has just been our team mantra…continue to run towards some adversity and face it head on vs. run away from it.”
The weather could play a factor this weekend. NDSU already changed the start time from 6 P.M. to 3 P.M. in hopes for warmer temperatures. Right now, the expectation is cold and windy and the Bison believe that plays right into their home field advantage.
“The weather is going to be an advantage for us,” said junior outfielder Sam Canton. “I think having that good series against [ORU] early in the year gives us a lot of confidence going into this weekend. Going in there and winning two of three with our backs against the wall after a Friday night loss, I think, gives a lot of confidence going into this week.”
Coach Oakes added on, “We told our guys any opportunity you have to put the uniform on and play is a special day. Whether it is 40 degrees and a ton of wind, or 80 degrees and sunny, it is another opportunity for our guys to continue to grow and go along on the journey together and find a way to get it done.
As of Thursday (4/18), the scheduled start for game one is on Friday at 3 p.m. Keep an eye out as it wouldn’t surprise anyone if it is pushed back to Saturday for a doubleheader.
The series will conclude on Sunday with a 1 P.M. first pitch.
