OMAHA, Neb. - In the 2024 Summit League opener, the Mavericks got six strong innings out of starter Charlie Bell, but were unable to support him on offense has North Dakota State beat them 4-1.

Omaha begins conference play at 0-1 and falls to 2-14 overall, while the Bison start off 1-0 and improve to 4-13.

Innings 1-3
Bell had one of his sharpest outings of the season, striking out five batters and not allowing a single hit through his first three innings. In the first, he caught his lone baserunner of the inning stealing second and proceeded to set down the next seven batters in order. In the third, he got all three outs via swinging strikes.

Omaha nearly got a run in the bottom of the first as Noah Greise and Tyler Bishop recorded a pair of two-out singles, but the Mavericks could not capitalize.

Innings 4-6
A leadoff single followed by an RBI double plated the first run of the day for NDSU. Bell set the next three batters down in order to limit the damage. The next inning the Bison went up 2-0 on a leadoff home run from Garrett Hill. This was all they could get against Bell, though, as he only allowed one more baserunner over the next two innings.

In the bottom of the sixth, Omaha managed to get on the board when Grant Sommers led off the inning with a first pitch swinging solo shot to left.

Innings 7-9
The Bison would extend their lead to 4-1 in the top of the seventh as Gill launched his second home run of the day, this time for two runs. The Mavericks could not get much going on offense until the bottom of the ninth when Greise laced his second single of the day to lead things off. He would not get any farther than that, however, as the Bison closed things out to take the opener.

Inside the Box Score
Sommers' home run was the first of his collegiate career.

Bell's eight strikeouts are one behind his season high which he set last week at SIUE.

On Deck
Game two of the series will begin tomorrow at 2 p.m. when Caleb Riedel (1-1) takes the mound opposite Logan Knight (0-2).