FARGO, N.D. (Interstat) — Tommy Simon’s grand slam in the seventh inning propelled North Dakota State to a 12-9 victory over Northern Colorado on Saturday afternoon at Newman Outdoor Field.

The Bison, who entered with a 10-29 record, snapped a three-game losing streak behind a 12-hit attack. Dante Smith led the way with a 4-for-5 performance, driving in three runs and scoring twice. Smith tripled in the seventh and doubled in the second, continuing a recent surge after going 1-for-5 with two RBIs in Friday’s 10-4 loss to the Bears.

Simon finished 1-for-2 with the home run and five RBIs, delivering the decisive blow in a six-run seventh inning that turned a 6-3 contest into a 12-3 rout. Garrett Shupe earned the win, allowing one earned run on three hits with four strikeouts over four innings. Zak Szabo added 2.2 innings of relief, surrendering one earned run on four hits with three strikeouts.

Northern Colorado fell to 14-34. The Bears struck first in the top of the first when Jake Bullard doubled to right center, scoring J. Stone. But North Dakota State answered with five runs in the bottom of the second. Smith doubled, and after a sacrifice fly and walk, Simon’s sacrifice fly plated Smith. Diego Trujillo doubled home another run, and Caden Gustafson singled in two more. Smith later singled to drive in Gustafson, giving the Bison a 5-1 lead.

The Bears chipped away. In the third, Stone scored on a fielder’s choice after a throwing error. North Dakota State added a run in the fourth on Smith’s single, making it 6-2. Northern Colorado trimmed the deficit to 6-3 in the seventh when L. Pruski singled home S. Pease.

Then came North Dakota State’s breakout. Corbin singled, Freiter singled and Timmons was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Simon. He crushed a 1-1 pitch over the right-field fence for a grand slam, stretching the lead to 10-3. The Bison kept going: Trujillo singled, advanced on a passed ball, and scored on a double play grounder. Smith tripled to bring home Gustafson, making it 12-3.

Northern Colorado mounted a late rally. In the eighth, after a single and walk, B. Kenny walked with the bases loaded to force in a run, and a balk scored Easton Bryant. B. Sanchez followed with a sacrifice fly, cutting the lead to 12-6. In the ninth, Bryant homered to right center, a three-run shot that scored Bullard and Pruski, but the Bears could get no closer.

Bryant finished 1-for-4 with the home run and three RBIs. Bullard went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Ethan Louthan took the loss, allowing five earned runs over 4.1 innings despite not giving up a hit; walks and hit batters contributed to the damage. Mac Hibben tossed a scoreless eighth with one strikeout.

The series finale is Sunday at Newman Outdoor Field. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 6-3 win for Northern Colorado, but Interstat’s ELO system gave North Dakota State a 68.80 percent probability to win.