GLENDIVE, Mont. – Tim Black tossed a two-hitter to lead NIACC to a 3-1 win over Miles Community College in the opening round of the North Plains district tournament Saturday morning.
Black (5-3) struck out 11 and walked one in the nine-inning victory.
“The first one in a double-elimination tournament is huge,” NIACC sophomore outfielder Ryan Voves said. “You have to get the first one.”
NIACC (27-16) plated all three of its runs in the first inning. Drew Verstegen drove in a run with a single and Max Waletich hit a 2-run home run.
Miles CC scored its lone run in the sixth inning on a throwing error.
For NIACC, Brett Guba, Verstegen and Ryan Voves all collected two hits.
Black moved his school-record strikeout total to 116 and moved to second on the single-season strikeout list with 60. He’s also tied with teammate Lucas Bakker for first on the career innings pitched list with 125 2/3.
“You know Tim is always going to give us a solid outing,” Voves said. “We just have to give him a little more run support and he’ll be fine.”
NIACC plays Dakota County Technical and Community College at 1:30 p.m. today. Freshman right-hander Nick Veale will start for the Trojans.
The winner of the North Plains district advances to the NJCAA Division II World Series in Oklahoma May 25-June 1.