THIS WEEK
The North Dakota State (1-7) baseball team travels to Arizona to take on Arizona State (5-2) on Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. CT due to expected weather in Phoenix. The Bison will then begin a three-game series at Arizona (4-3) on Friday at 7:00 p.m. CT
COVERAGE
GoBison.com: Live statistics and video links are available on GoBison.com for all four games.
LOOKING BACK AT THE TONY GWYNN CLASSIC
After weather forced schedule changes, the Bison played back-to-back doubleheaders in the Tony Gwynn Classic in San Diego on Sunday and Monday. The Bison came up short against Hawaii, 13-1, and San Diego State, 9-2, on Sunday. NDSU then dropped both ends of a doubleheader at UC San Diego on Monday, 7-1, and, 14-6.
Cadyn Schwabe paced the Bison with a .400 batting average with six hits, three runs and one stolen base, while Terrell Huggins notched a .375 batting average with six runs and six hits, including two doubles and one home run over the four-game span.
ARIZONA CONNECTIONS
Senior outfielder Terrell Huggins is a native of Tucson, Ariz., native and was a four-year letterwinnner at nearby Cienega High School. Prior to joining the Bison last season, Huggins attended Pima Community College in Tucson, Ariz.
CONSISTENTLY PRODUCING
Cadyn Schwabe has started all eight games this season and leads the Bison in batting average (.370), runs (10) and stolen bases (5). He’s also connected on 10 hits with one double and one triple this season
THE DOUBLE MACHINE
After not hitting double in each of the first three games, Peter Brookshaw tied a career-high and program record three doubles in the series finale against Sacramento State. It marked the second time in his career he notched three doubles in a game with the first coming in his Bison debut at Sacramento State on Feb. 16, 2019. With a team-high four doubles this season, Brookshaw has increased his career total to 36, which ranks tied for ninth place all-time in NDSU history.
ON THE MOUND
Through the first two weeks of the season, NDSU has had 13 different pitchers appear on the mound for at least 1.0 innings. Cade Feeney has made two starts and thrown a team-high 13 strikeouts over 9.0 innings. Tristen Roehrich has also made two starts with 10 strikeouts and is limiting opponents to a .282 batting average.
KINGS OF THE ROAD
The Bison are set to play 39 of 52 regular season games away from home, including the first 34 straight before making their home debut on April 18 against Mayville State.
Last season, NDSU ended up playing its first 37 games on the road after weather forced schedule changes. The Bison went on to register at least one win in 10 different states.
RAISING THE BAR
The Bison finished last season with a 31-19 (17-5 Summit) overall record and reached the 30-win mark for only the seventh time in program history. It also marked the first time NDSU won 30 or more games in back-to-back seasons in program history after the Bison won a program record 42 games 2021. NDSU also reached the 15-win mark for the second straight season and sixth time overall in conference play since joining the Summit League in 2008.
THE CHALLENGING SCHEDULE AHEAD
The Bison are set to play a challenging schedule this season that features 52 regular season contests across eight states against opponents from nine different conferences. NDSU will also face five opponents that participated in the NCAA Tournament last season, including Arizona, Texas State, Texas, Texas Tech and Oral Roberts. Additionally, the Bison will play 39 of 52 games away from home, including the first 34 straight before making their home debut on April 18 against Mayville State.
SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL
The Bison were picked second in the Summit League Preseason Poll. Oral Roberts earned the top spot with 42 points and six first-place votes. NDSU, who won its first regular season Summit League Championship in program history last year, was in second with 36 points and one first-place vote, while Omaha closed out the top three in third place with 30 points.
SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Peter Brookshaw and Cade Feeney were named to the Summit League Players to Watch list. Brookshaw started 46 games last season and led the Bison in RBI (46) and runs (36). He also ranked second on the team in hits (52), stolen bases (13) and home runs (8).
Feeney made 14 starts and tossed a team-high 62 strikeouts over 79.1 innings. He also posted a 7-3 overall record on the mound and his seven wins last season ranked tied for seventh place on the NDSU single-season list.
YEAR TWO UNDER OAKES
In his first season as head coach last season, Tyler Oakes guided NDSU to its first Summit League regular season title in program history after assembling a 30-17 (17-5 Summit) overall record. It marked only the seventh time in program history the Bison have reached the 30-win mark. NDSU began the season playing each of its first 37 games on the road and were the last Division I team to play a home game. Oakes became the first coach in NDSU baseball history to earn Summit League Coach of the Year honors.
THE SUMMIT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP COMES TO FARGO
NDSU will host the Summit League Baseball Championship at Newman Outdoor Field on May 24-27 for the first time in program history. It will mark the first time NDSU has hosted a postseason baseball event since the 2000 North Central Conference (NCC) tournament. The Bison assembled a 31-19 overall record last season and won their first regular season Summit League championship in program history.
LIGHTS OUT
NDSU returns five pitchers this season that totaled at least 20 strikeouts last season. Cade Feeney totaled a team-high 62 strikeouts over 14 appearances on the mound. The Bison also earned 17 saves last season, which led the Summit League and ranked tied for second all-time in NDSU history. Tristen Roehrich finished the season ranked tied for third in the Summit League with a team-best six saves.
MR. DURABILITY
Peter Brookshaw enters the season having started all 175 games he’s appeared in over five seasons. The Prescott, Wis., native ranks inside in the top ten in several notable categories in Bison history: most sacrifice flies (2nd, 12), most walks (2nd, 93), stolen bases (8th, 38), triples (T-9th, 8), RBI (T-9th, 130), doubles (T-9th, 36) and at-bats (9th, 677).
LOVEN CLIMBS THE RANKS
Max Loven begins the season with a chance to leave his mark in Bison history and ranks inside the top 10 in several categories: starts (2nd, 46), innings pitched (5th, 257.1), strikeouts (4th, 209) and wins (T-6th, 16).
WHO’S BACK?
NDSU returns 14 letterwinners this season, including five pitchers that tossed at least 20 strikeouts last season. The roster also features six seniors: Terrell Huggins, Peter Brookshaw, Druw Sackett, Max Loven, Shea Zetterman and Tristen Roehrich.
WELCOME TO THE SQUAD
The Bison welcome 14 newcomers this season: Kyle Law, Davis Hamilton, Kale Jensen, Parker Puetz, Kale Hopke, Zak Endres, Konnor Kirchoffner, Dallan Quigley, James Dunlap, Jack Steil, Hunter Rosenbaum, Jack Luster, Carson Jacobs and Stephen Lund.
THE SERIES VS. ARIZONA STATE
This will be the first all-time meeting.
THE SERIES VS. ARIZONA
This will be the 14th all-time meeting between NDSU and Arizona and first since 2018. The Wildcats have won each of the last six meetings and lead the series, 11-2. During the 2012 season, NDSU upended then-ranked No. 5 Arizona, 8-2, on the road.
UP NEXT
NDSU will begin a three-game series at Texas State on Friday, March 10. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. CT
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