Durazo?s three homers go for naught as Bison sweep

Sunday, April 24

Fargo, N.D.

2 p.m.

South Dakota State University

North Dakota State

4/24/2011 7:47:00 PM | Softball

By: SDSU Sports Info

FARGO, N.D. - South Dakota State senior Ashley Durazo went 5-for-5, with three homeruns and five RBI in the nine-inning Game 2 on Sunday in Fargo, but it came in a losing cause, as the Jackrabbits dropped both games of a doubleheader against North Dakota State on Sunday, falling 9-0 in the opener and 9-7 in the nightcap.

The sweep drops the Jackrabbits to 9-34 overall and 6-11 in Summit League play, while the two-time defending league champion Bison end the day with an even 22-22 overall record, 12-5 in league play.

The Bison scored the only run they would need in Game 1 in the bottom of the first, but added two more in the third to go up 3-0, before dashing any hopes of a Jackrabbit comeback with a six-run fourth inning.

NDSU starter Whitney Johnson took care of the rest, tossing a one-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts and no walks for the win.

The Bison started the scoring in Game 2, plating two runs in the bottom of the second to take the early 2-0 lead.

Durazo got the Jacks on the board in the third with her first homer of the day, and then put the Jacks in front in the fifth with her second dinger, a two run shot that put SDSU on top 3-2.

Emily Weber joined the fun with a two run blast in the sixth to give SDSU a 5-2 lead, and even though NDSU got one back in the bottom of the sixth, Durazo smacked her third long ball in the seventh to give the Jacks a 7-3 lead going into the bottom of the seventh.

The Bison used three hits, two walks and one Jackrabbit error to come back and tie the game at 7-7, forcing extra innings, where Jenina Ortega eventually ended the game with a two-run walk-off homerun in the ninth to give the Bison the sweep.

Kori Seidlitz took the loss in both games, pitching all four innings in a Game 1 start, and two and a third innings of relief in Game 2.

The Jacks look to avoid the sweep in the series finale in Fargo on Monday at noon.