FARGO, N.D. (Interstat) — Lucas Stone tossed six shutout innings in relief and Sam Pease drove in four runs as the Northern Colorado Bears defeated the North Dakota State Bison 9-7 on Sunday afternoon at Newman Outdoor Field.

The Bears improved to 15-34 overall and 6-11 in Summit League play, while the Bison fell to 10-30 and 4-13. Northern Colorado outhit North Dakota State 13-9 but grounded into three double plays, while the Bison had two sacrifice hits.

Stone entered in the bottom of the fourth inning after starter Trevor Landen allowed three runs in three innings. Stone allowed no hits, three earned runs and struck out seven over six innings, earning the win. It was his longest outing of the season after two effective relief appearances against Omaha and Air Force.

North Dakota State struck first in the bottom of the first. After two hit batsmen and a single, Dante Smith doubled to right field, scoring two runs. Bennett Freiter then grounded out, bringing home another run to give the Bison a 3-0 lead.

Northern Colorado answered in the top of the second. With runners on second and third and one out, Brett Barber singled to left field, driving in two runs to tie the game at 3-3.

The Bears took control in the top of the fourth. After a walk and a hit batsman, M. Griffin and W. Kieffer advanced on a sacrifice bunt. Pease singled up the middle, scoring two runs. Jaden Stone then singled to center field, scoring Pease to make it 6-3.

North Dakota State cut the lead in the bottom of the fifth. With a runner on second, Freiter doubled to center field, scoring Womack to make it 6-4.

Pease delivered again in the top of the fifth. With two runners on and two outs, he doubled to left field, scoring two more runs to push the lead to 8-5. He later scored on a wild pitch, making it 9-5.

The Bison responded in the bottom of the seventh. After a single and a stolen base, Freiter singled to right field, scoring Smith to trim the lead to 9-6.

Northern Colorado added an insurance run in the top of the eighth. Brandon Sanchez walked, advanced to second on a throwing error by the pitcher and scored on Jaden Stone’s single up the middle, stretching the lead to 9-6.

The most dramatic moment came in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs and no runners on, Smith homered to right center, pulling the Bison within 9-7. But the next batter, Corbin, popped up to second base to end the game.

Pease finished 3 for 4 with four RBIs. Jaden Stone went 2 for 5 with two RBIs. Easton Bryant, pinch-hitting, went 2 for 3. Barber had one hit and two RBIs.

For North Dakota State, Smith went 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs. Freiter went 2 for 4 with three RBIs. Braden Gluth took the loss, allowing five hits and three earned runs in 4 1/3 innings with two strikeouts.

The win avenged a 12-9 loss to the Bison on Saturday, which gave North Dakota State a series victory after Northern Colorado won the opener 10-4 on Friday. The two teams have split the season series 3-3.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Northern Colorado 6, North Dakota State 3, while Interstat’s ELO system gave the Bison a 68 percent probability to win.