MINNEAPOLIS (Interstat) — South Dakota State defeated Oral Roberts 9-6 on Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at the Summit League Baseball Championship.

Nicholas Werk drove in three runs, including a two-run double in the fifth inning that broke a tie and gave the Jackrabbits the lead for good. Werk went 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs. He also homered in the second inning to answer an Oral Roberts rally.

The Jackrabbits improved to 20-31, while the Golden Eagles fell to 35-23.

Oral Roberts took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Will Edmunson walked and scored on a single by Wailele Kane Yates. Makani Tanaka scored on a groundout by Martell Davis.

South Dakota State tied the game in the bottom of the first on solo homers by Nolan Grawe and Nate Wachter.

Oral Roberts regained the lead in the second. Matthew Mainord singled, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Edmunson. But Werk’s solo homer in the bottom of the second tied the game at 3.

The Jackrabbits took their first lead in the third, scoring two runs. Nolan Grawe reached on an error by Oral Roberts first baseman and scored on a passed ball. Luke Jones then singled to drive in Luke Luskey, making it 5-3.

Oral Roberts cut the deficit to 5-4 in the fourth. Mainord singled and later scored on Edmunson’s third RBI single of the game.

In the fifth, the Golden Eagles tied the game on an unearned run. Wailele Kane Yates singled, advanced to third on a single by Cooper Kelly and scored when Ethan Fender reached on an error by South Dakota State shortstop Keagen Jirschele.

Werk put South Dakota State ahead for good in the bottom of the fifth. Luke Jones had singled and moved to third on a walk to Dayton Franke. Keagen Jirschele reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second. Werk then doubled down the left-field line to score Jirschele and Jones.

Edmunson homered to center field in the sixth to cut the lead to 7-6, but South Dakota State answered with two runs in the bottom half. Luke Jones walked, advanced on a walk to Luke Luskey and scored on a single by Carter Taylor. Jones later scored on a double by Jirschele.

Ty Madison earned the win in relief, pitching 5 1/3 innings. He allowed four hits and one earned run with two strikeouts. Madison entered in the fourth inning with the Jackrabbits leading 5-3 and surrendered only Edmunson’s solo homer.

Keaton Ruthardt pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings for Oral Roberts, allowing no hits and striking out two. But the Golden Eagles could not close the gap.

Oral Roberts finished with 10 hits. South Dakota State had 12.

Luke Jones went 4 for 4 with an RBI for the Jackrabbits. Grawe and Wachter each homered. Jirschele finished 2 for 4 with an RBI. For Oral Roberts, Edmunson had three hits, including the homer, and three RBIs. Tanaka and Yates each had two hits.

Conner Johnson started for Oral Roberts and was lifted after two-plus innings. Maddox Thornton, Luke Will, Jack Hill and Ruthardt also pitched for the Golden Eagles.

The win gave South Dakota State its second victory in the last three games between the teams. Oral Roberts had won three straight earlier in the season, including a 10-2 victory April 19. The Golden Eagles lost for the second time in their past 10 games overall.

The doubleheader continues later Saturday.