BROOKINGS, S.D. (Interstat) — A wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning allowed Carter Taylor to score the decisive run as South Dakota State rallied from an early four-run deficit to defeat Northwestern 5-4 in a nonconference baseball game Friday.

The game, which started in the afternoon and concluded under evening lights, saw the Jackrabbits erase the Wildcats’ first-inning outburst with a patient late-game comeback, improving their record to 5-8. Northwestern fell to 5-6.

The contest turned dramatically in the late innings after Northwestern starter Ryan Weaver delivered a dominant performance. The right-hander pitched six strong innings, allowing just two earned runs on four hits while striking out nine. He left with a 4-2 lead, having silenced the Jackrabbits’ bats after a two-run first inning.

Northwestern’s offense came to life immediately against South Dakota State starter Ty Madison. Jack Lausch led off the game with a double down the right-field line and scored on Marty Kucherak’s RBI double to center. After a single by Griffin Freeman, Alex Barron brought home Kucherak with a sacrifice fly to stake the Wildcats to a 2-0 lead before an out was recorded. The Wildcats added two more in the fourth on a solo home run by Kyle McElfatrick and an unearned run in the fifth.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the seventh and eighth innings as the Jackrabbits mounted their comeback. Reliever Drew McDowell kept Northwestern at bay with three perfect innings of relief, setting the stage for the offense.

In the bottom of the seventh, after a two-out single by Nicholas Werk, pinch-hitter Mason Franke delivered a crucial RBI double to right-center, scoring Werk. Luke Grawe followed with another double, this time down the right-field line, to plate Franke and tie the game at 4-4.

The Jackrabbits completed the rally in the eighth. With two outs and the bases loaded following walks to Taylor and Grant Sorensen and an intentional pass to Werk, a wild pitch from Northwestern reliever Jack DeLoreto allowed Taylor to scamper home with the go-ahead run.

South Dakota State’s bullpen was flawless. After Madison allowed four runs on five hits over four innings, McDowell and closer Evan Augedahl combined for five hitless innings. McDowell earned the win and Augedahl secured the save, retiring the Wildcats in order in the ninth despite a two-out single that was immediately negated by a game-ending flyout.

Nate Wachter led the Jackrabbits’ eight-hit attack, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Franke’s pinch-hit double provided the critical spark in the seventh-inning rally.

For Northwestern, which managed just six hits, McElfatrick’s home run was the lone extra-base hit after the first inning. The Wildcats have now lost four of their last five games.

South Dakota State travels to face Minnesota on Saturday. Northwestern is scheduled to play Omaha in a neutral-site game at Minneapolis.