Weather hampers Bison baseball season
While April should bring warm weather and sunny days at the ballpark, this year has been a little bit different. Just ask the NDSU baseball team.
“It’s been pretty brutal the last couple of weeks,” said third baseman/pitcher Ryan Langlais. “In Omaha we had about an 8 degree wind chill so it wasn’t too good.”
Temperatures have been low in ballparks across the country and have forced the Bison into some interesting scheduling.
A total of six games against three different teams have either been postponed or cancelled already this year for NDSU.
The Bison (3-17) were also forced to move their recent series against South Dakota State to Creighton’s home field in Omaha, Neb. to play the games.
Despite the move south, the teams were still forced to cancel the second game of the doubleheader both Saturday and Sunday last weekend.
Cold weather and cold hands have contributed to some cold bats for the Bison so far this season.
Currently, NDSU has more strikeouts (168) on the year than they do hits (147).
“Very truthfully right now, we’re just not putting the ball in play,” head coach Mitch McLeod said. “We need to shorten up our swings and be more direct to the ball.”
The schedule has also been tough in the early part of the year.
After splitting the four-game series with Charleston Southern in the opening series, the Bison have played against the likes of Creighton, Iowa and Kansas State.
“All three of those teams are very good baseball teams,” McLeod said. “We have six games (Creighton, Minnesota, Nebraska) left against top-level programs. Other than that we’re playing against mid-level schools we should be able to compete with. I think we’re capable of winning those games at a .700 clip.”
The Bison have also had to play on the road throughout the entire season. Playing away from home has been just one more element that has made this season difficult.
However, the Bison are scheduled to make their home debut this weekend against Valparaiso.
“Ask anybody who has to spend three days on a bus how bad it is and how mentally grinding it is,” McLeod said. “Anytime you can get back home is going to be a huge relief.”
Weather permitting, the Bison are scheduled to open up an eight game home stand on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Another doubleheader is scheduled for Sunday at noon. Minot State and Minnesota-Duluth come to Newman Outdoor Field next week.