FORT MYERS, Fla. (Interstat) — In a tense, low-hit pitchers’ duel to open the season, the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles rallied in the ninth and walked it off in the 10th to edge the North Dakota State Bison 2-1 on Friday night at Swanson Stadium.

The game, which saw the teams combine for just eight hits and 30 strikeouts, was dominated by pitching until a dramatic final two innings. North Dakota State broke a scoreless tie in the top of the ninth. Becker walked, was sacrificed to second by Trujillo, and scored on Gustafson’s sharp RBI single to right field.

Needing a run to extend the game in the bottom of the ninth, Florida Gulf Coast’s Comer delivered a towering solo home run to right field, his first of the season, to tie the game and send the contest to extra innings.

North Dakota State went down in order in the top of the 10th. In the bottom half, Florida Gulf Coast’s Keaton Kangas, who entered the game as a defensive replacement, drew a leadoff walk. He was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Gagnon and to third on a groundout by Embury. That brought Gorostola to the plate with two outs. On a 1-1 count, he drove a pitch to deep center field, scoring Kangas easily and setting off the celebration for the home team.

The most important sequence of the game was undoubtedly the bottom of the ninth inning. Facing defeat, Florida Gulf Coast’s Comer provided the instant answer to North Dakota State’s go-ahead run with his game-tying solo shot. That clutch homer not only erased the Bison’s lead but fundamentally shifted the momentum, deflating a North Dakota State squad that was three outs from victory and energizing the Eagles’ dugout for the extra-inning win.

North Dakota State starter Parker Puetz and Florida Gulf Coast starter Evan Dempsey set the tone with strong outings, though neither factored in the decision. The Bison bullpen, until the ninth, had successfully protected the zeros on the board. North Dakota State out-hit the Eagles five to three but stranded critical opportunities, going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

Florida Gulf Coast’s small-ball execution proved vital. The Eagles successfully executed two sacrifice hits, including the key bunt in the 10th that moved the winning run into scoring position.

With the win, Florida Gulf Coast begins its season 1-0. North Dakota State starts 0-1. The teams are scheduled to continue their three-game series on Saturday.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Florida Gulf Coast was projected with a 70.9% probability to win.

North Dakota State continues its Florida road trip with the series finale against the Eagles on Sunday before heading to South Florida for a midweek set. Florida Gulf Coast hosts the Bison again on Saturday and Sunday, then prepares for a midweek game against Minnesota next Wednesday.