GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Behind two home runs and seven RBIs from Jeff Campbell, North Dakota won the opener of a three-game WAC series, 7-2, over Utah Valley University on Friday at Kraft Field.

The Wolverines (15-31, 11-11) led 2-0 early but Campbell hit a three-run blast in the third and then, with UND (19-22, 13-9) ahead 3-2 in the eighth, hit the grand slam to account for all of his team's runs.

Andrew Thome struck out a career-high 13 and lasted into the ninth for North Dakota, improving to 4-6 on the season. Thome gave up two runs on seven hits in 8.1 innings. Campbell came in out of the bullpen to get the final two outs to end the game. Danny Beddes (5-5) took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits in 6.0 innings of work.


Utah Valley rallied with two outs in the second with Jordan Schlehuber walking and Seth Rhineer reaching on an infield single. Kade Andrus brought home both runners with a triple into the rightfield corner to give the Wolverines a 2-0 lead.

Campbell's three-run home run came in the third and gave North Dakota a 3-2 lead. The grand slam came on a 3-2 pitch with nobody out in the inning.

Andrus, Mark Krueger and Rhineer each had two hits, accounting for all but one of the Wolverines' hits. Andrus' triple is his fifth of the year. North Dakota finished with just five hits but had 13 other hitters reach via nine walks and four hit batters.
 
Game two is scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. CT/2 p.m. MT.