North Dakota State won’t back down from NCAA Tournament challenge at Arkansas

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

FAYETTEVILLE – North Dakota State University’s baseball team may not walk out to Tom Petty’s classic ‘I Won’t Back Down’ on Friday at Baum-Walker Stadium, but you can expect that to be its mentality.


Both NDSU head coach Taylor Oakes and Arkansas’ Dave Van Horn expect a battle when they Razorbacks (43-13) and Bison (20-31) meet Friday at 2 p.m. in the opening game of the NCAA Baseball Tournaments Fayetteville Regional.

“We are excited to be here,” Oakes said. “We know about the challenge ahead of us and some people in this room might not even known where Fargo, North Dakota is.

“So we are excited to showcase our brand of baseball. Obviously I am extremely proud of the guys for finding a way to get it done in (winning) the Summit League Tournament and couldn’t be more excited to be on this type of stage. Again, proud of our team and looking forward to what’s to come.”

Oakes summed up that brand of baseball as maybe not the “sexiest.”

“You are going to see a group of tough guys that love to compete,” Oakes said. “It is not going to one that is the sexiest baseball all the time. We are not going to hit balls over the fence all the time and bash all over the yard, but it is a brand that if we can execute at a high level and are able to handle the bat, move around the bases a little bit, steals some bases and kind of play more of that old-style baseball, too, we can get some things done.”

Oakes knows his team is a prohibitive underdog in an event that will also have second-seeded Kansas (40-15) and third-seeded Creighton (41-14), who will play Friday at 7 p.m.

“We have a bunch of guys with chips on their shoulders,” Oakes said. “That might be harder and harder to find in this day and age of college athletics. Guys that just want to go out and do it for each other.

“It is a very unselfish group and I think it is a group that is hungry and motivated and have been put in situations all year long that have been them ready for this next challenge ahead of them.”

The Bison, who played only 12 home games this season, started the 2025 campaign 0-13 while playing road games at LSU, Alabama, Dallas Baptist Tulane, Minnesota and others.

Oakes agrees with that sentiment.

“Kind of one of our coaching staff philosophy staples is trying to put together a non-conference slate that is going to challenge us anyone and anytime and anywhere.

“And I think with us being in Summit League, a one-bid league, it really sets us up for opportunities like this.

“We have been in environments, we have played challenging offenses and pitching staffs of extremely high levels. I think that is the best way to go about it and our guys have really bought into it as well, sticking with the process.”

They have earned Van Horn’s respect.

“They seem to play free,” Van Horn said. “ They lost a lot of games early and they learned how to handle losing a little bit, and they like winning. 

“They fought to win and they fought to get here. It’s gonna definitely be a game that I don’t think anybody’s gonna be backing down.”

Arkansas will start Aiden Jimenez (4-1, 3.37 ERA)on the mound while NDSU will start Nolan Johnson (4-5, 5.15 in 15 starts).

“Nolan will get the ball,” Oakes said. “He deserves it. Obviously what he did in the conference tournament last week, throwing seven innings on Wednesday in game one and then coming back on a couple of days rest and throwing four innings for us in that second championship game was pretty incredible to watch.


“So he is ready to go and ready too rock tomorrow.”

Van Horn referred Johnson’s change up to an old Bugs Bunny baseball cartoon in which the rabbit was striking out batters with wildly moving pitches.

“Some guys just have one that’s kind of a, as they say, the old Bugs Bunny change up,” Van Horn said. “It’s hard to hit. It just dances around. Those of you that are our age and have seen the cartoon and the ball just kind of stops and then it moves.

“Anyway, I’m not saying you’ve got that one but he’s got good stuff and he competes.”

Johnson is excited about his opportunity to face the Razorbacks.

“I know it is going to be a challenge, but know if I am execute my pitches tomorrow to the best of my ability that I will give our team a chance to win,” Johnson said.

Johnson believes his team is ready for the moment because of the strong non-conference slate.

“I think it has prepared us very well, playing in places like LSU, Alabama and Oklahoma State so we are kind of used to it by now. So I think we have done a great job scheduling tough teams like those to get ready for this moment now.”

Photo by John D. James