BROOKINGS, S.D. (Interstat) — Parker Puetz delivered a second consecutive dominant start and Colten Becker launched two home runs as North Dakota State defeated South Dakota State 6-1 on Friday afternoon in the Summit League opener for both teams at Erv Huether Field.

The most important part of the game was the immediate and sustained command established by Puetz. The right-hander set the tone from the outset, stifling the Jackrabbits’ offense over six innings of work. He allowed just one earned run on six hits, but more critically, he navigated constant traffic, stranding eight South Dakota State baserunners. His performance was the foundation upon which the Bison built their victory, extinguishing multiple early threats to preserve a lead his offense had provided in the first inning.

North Dakota State struck quickly against South Dakota State starter Ty Madison. Sam Corbin led off the game with an infield single, was sacrificed to second, and moved to third on a balk. Becker then hammered a two-run homer to deep right field, his third of the season, giving the Bison a 2-0 lead before many in the evening crowd had settled.

South Dakota State repeatedly pressured Puetz but could not break through until the fourth. After Keagen Jirschele singled and Dawson Siegert was hit by a pitch, Nolan Grawe delivered an RBI single through the right side to plate Jirschele, cutting the deficit to 2-1. The Jackrabbits had the tying run in scoring position with only one out, but Puetz induced a deep flyout from Luke Werk and a foul out from Ryan Luskey to end the threat, a pivotal sequence that maintained the Bison’s momentum.

The game remained tight until the sixth, when Becker provided crucial insurance. With one out and a new pitcher on the mound in Drew McDowell, Becker connected for his second two-run shot of the afternoon, this time to right-center field, scoring Eli Smith to extend the lead to 4-1. It was Becker’s fourth home run of the season and accounted for four of the Bison’s six RBIs.

North Dakota State added two more runs in the eighth against McDowell. Kyle Law led off with a solo homer to left-center, his first of the year. Later in the inning, with two outs, Diego Trujillo doubled to right-center to bring home Jack Womack, making it 6-1.

While Puetz earned the win, reliever Sheamus Ryan was flawless in securing it. Ryan took over in the seventh and pitched three perfect innings, retiring all nine batters he faced to seal the victory.

Madison took the loss for South Dakota State, allowing three earned runs on three hits over five innings. McDowell surrendered three runs on four hits in four innings of relief.

Grawe was a bright spot for the Jackrabbits’ offense, going 3 for 5 with the team’s lone RBI. The Jackrabbits out-hit the Bison 6 to 7 but grounded into two double plays and left nine men on base.

The victory improved North Dakota State’s season record to 4-17, while South Dakota State fell to 5-17. The result defied a narrow pregame projection from Interstat, whose simulator had forecast a 2-1 Bison win, though its ELO system gave North Dakota State a 55.7% probability of victory.

The two teams continue their three-game series on Saturday and Sunday in Brookings.