Doubleheader Sweep Gets Mastodons Back in Playoff Hunt

Sunday, May 15

Fargo, N.D.

2:00 PM

Purdue Fort Wayne

North Dakota State

Kurt Dudley and Brett Clark homered in IPFW's doubleheader sweep of NDSU on Sunday

Doubleheader Sweep Gets Mastodons Back in Playoff Hunt

5/15/2011 9:13:33 PM | Baseball

Game 1 | Game 2

Fargo, ND - IPFW goes into its final Summit League series with South Dakota State fresh off of a doubleheader sweep of North Dakota State on Sunday at Newman Outdoor Field. IPFW came from behind to win Game 1, 5-4 and led wire-to-wire in a Game 2, 5-1 win.

With the sweep, IPFW took 3-4 from the Bison and climbed back into the playoff race for one of the final four playoff spots.

South Dakota State and Oral Roberts are a lock for the tournament with identical 17-7 records. However, from third on back there sits a log jam. North Dakota State is third at 12-11, Western Illinois fourth at 12-12 and IPFW and Southern Utah are tied for fifth at 11-13.

Western Illinois will finish the year at North Dakota State. Southern Utah travels to Oral Roberts, while the 'Dons and Jacks do battle.

In Game 1, IPFW opened the scoring in the 2nd inning as first baseman Zach Hufferd singled and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Nate Thomas.

The Bison would get that one back and add one to it in the bottom of the inning on a two-run, two-out single to left by second baseman Wes Satzinger.

The score remained 2-1 Bison until the top of the 6th inning. With Hufferd aboard, center fielder Kurt Dudley launched his third homer of the season down the right field line.

But the Bison would get those two back in the bottom of the seventh on a two-run single to right center by first baseman Zach Heidmann, making it 4-3 NDSU.

That set up the stage for a Mastodon comeback in the top of the 9th. With two out and runners on second and third, North Dakota State decided to intentionally walk IPFW's leading hitter Will Faulkner to set up a force at any base.  Designated hitter Brett Clark made them pay.  Clark laced a single through the right side scoring Thomas and Garrett Segraves giving the 'Dons a one run lead.

IPFW reliever Matt Ransbottom, who came on in the 5th inning, set the Bison down in order in the ninth for the win.

Ransbottom went 3.1 innings for his fourth win of the season (4-2). He gave up two runs on four hits while striking out two.

NDSU reliever Jason Mantilla gave up both IPFW runs in the ninth for the loss (3-3).

In Game 2, IPFW bolted out to a 3-0 lead in the second on an RBI bases loaded walk by shortstop Kristian Gayday and a two-run double by Segraves.

North Dakota State (18-28) scored their lone run of the game against IPFW starter Samuel Walker in the bottom of the second on an RBI base hit by center fielder Tim Colwell.

IPFW got a pair of insurance runs in the sixth. With Faulkner aboard, Clark smacked his first homer of the season giving the 'Dons a 5-1 win.

Walker picked up his fifth win of the year (5-4) going the distance. He struck out six in the six-hitter. The run he allowed was unearned.

NDSU starter Mark Hermes lasted just an inning in the loss (2-7)

IPFW is now 16-31 overall. The South Dakota State series begins on Friday in Brookings, South Dakota.

~Dons~