The UND men’s baseball team came out of the gate flat, but is starting to find a bit of a groove.

After starting out the season 0-8, UND has looked a lot better in the six games since. Since starting conference play on March 14, the team has gone a respectable 3-3. Through those six games, the Green and White have ranged from dominating the other team, to looking like the team that started out 0-8.

The men’s team started WAC Conference play by winning its first series of the year in a commanding fashion.

After losing the first game of the series to Utah Valley 8-5, the Green and White went on a tear in its next two games. UND’s batters stepped up, posting 10 runs in each of the victories. With all the run support, the pitchers could relax and do their jobs. The rotation only gave up one run in the second game, and four in the third and final game of the series.

Lately, the games have proved more challenging. After a stop in Las Vegas on March 19, where the Green and White lost a nonconference game to UNLV 16-6, the team traveled to California to take on Bakersfield in a three game series.

In the first game of the series, Bakersfield played well the entire game. After getting out to a 4-0 lead the entire game, UND tried to mount a comeback in the ninth inning — scoring one run, but nothing more.

The second game was a much more intense affair. Bakersfield had built an 11-8 lead when it was UND’s turn to bat in the bottom of the ninth. Once again the team tried to rally. After Zach Trygstad and Ryan Reese both scored, the score was 11-10 with only one out. Unfortunately, it was not Daniel Lockhert’s night. When it was his turn to bat, he played into what Bakersfield was praying for.

Double play. Game over.

The third game in the series played out differently though. UND did not need any late game heroics to put Bakersfield away. UND scored six runs off of eight hits, and Jeff Campbell pitched a gem of game. Through his complete game, Campbell only allowed three runs, icing the game for the Green and White.

Through the highs and lows of the last couple weeks, UND has put itself into a good position in the standings. Starting the season off dead last in the WAC standings, those three wins have catapulted them all the way up to a tie for fifth in the conference.

The Green and White will look to bring the momentum of their last game home when they take on Northern Colorado at Shiloh Christian High School in Bismarck, N.D., this weekend. Northern Colorado currently is in the basement of the WAC, going 0-3 in conference play to start the season.

UND will hope to play its first game in Grand Forks on April 2 against Minnesota-Crookston, weather permitting.

Alex Stadnik is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. He can be reached at [email protected].