Playoff Hopes Fade with Doubleheader Sweep at SDSU

Thursday, May 19

Brookings, S.D.

1:00 PM

Purdue Fort Wayne

South Dakota State

Brett Clark drove in all three Mastodon runs in Game 2 vs. SDSU

Playoff Hopes Fade with Doubleheader Sweep at SDSU

5/19/2011 10:06:44 PM | Baseball

Game 1 | Game 2

Brookings, SD - IPFW's playoff hopes dimmed significantly with a doubleheader sweep at the hands of South Dakota State on Thursday afternoon at Erv Huether Field. IPFW stranded 12 runners in a 6-2, Game 1 loss and fell to the Jackrabbits, 4-3 in 14 innings in Game 2.

With the losses, the Mastodons fall to 11-15 in league play. North Dakota State topped Western Illinois to move to 13-11 with three games left to play. WIU fell to 12-13, also with three games left to play. They currently occupy the final two playoff spots with Oral Roberts and South Dakota State already locked into the first two seeds. Southern Utah was swept by Oral Roberts and is tied with IPFW at 11-15 with two left to play.

In Game 1, SDSU (34-17, 19-7) took advantage of two IPFW errors in the bottom of the first inning to score all the runs they would need. After the 'Dons jumped out to a 1-0 lead on an RBI single by first baseman A.J. Christensen, the Jacks sent nine batters to the plate and scored five times to take a commanding lead early.

However, after that IPFW starter Nick Opitz retired 15 straight batters to keep SDSU off the board until the bottom of the 8th inning. The problem was that IPFW couldn't push any more runs across, even though they had plenty of opportunities.

The Jackrabbits added an insurance run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Jesse Sawyer.

The Mastodons managed to make things interesting in the ninth. Will Faulkner drove in a run on a fielder's choice, but with the bases loaded SDSU closer Trevor Vermeulen got Kurt Dudley to fly out to end the game.

Optiz, who tossed his nation-leading seventh complete game of the year was tagged with the loss (4-8). Of the six runs scored against him, only two were earned.  He struck out six and walked two.

SDSU starter Stephen Bougher improved to 5-4 with the win. He went 6.2 innings, striking out a career-high eight without issuing a free pass. Vermeulen was credited with his ninth save of the year.

In Game 2, IPFW opened the scoring in the 3rd inning. Second baseman Garrett Segraves doubled down the left field line to lead off the frame. He would eventually score on an infield ground out by designated hitter Brett Clark.

South Dakota State tied the game in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double to left by first baseman Joel Blake.

The Jackrabbits pushed ahead in the bottom of the eighth as shortstop Eric Cain tripled to right field scoring Andrew Phelan.

SDSU went to Vermeulen to close it out in the ninth again, but this time the 'Dons got to him. Clark, with two aboard, singled up the middle.  Malcolm White and Segraves scampered home giving IPFW a 3-2 lead.

But just like the Jacks an inning earlier, IPFW couldn't close the game out in the bottom of the ninth. Pinch hitter Daniel Telford walked to lead off. He was bunted over to second and then lifted for pinch runner Zach Higgins. Higgins would score on an RBI single by center fielder Billy Stitz.

The Jacks tried to win it in regulation, but Stitz was gunned down at home plate by right fielder Nate Thomas after a single by DH Zach Rhodes.

The game remained tied at 3-3 until the bottom of the 14th inning. But with two-out and the bases loaded, pinch hitter Phil Paquette drew a bases loaded walk to end the game.

IPFW starter Ryan August put together another solid outing. He went 8.0 innings, giving up three runs on four hits. Reliever Matt Ransbottom tossed 5.1 innings, but was tagged with the loss (4-3).  He was responsible for the winning run.

Kolton Emery worked 3.1 innings for the win (7-1). He allowed just one hit and walked one.

The series will conclude tomorrow with a double header at 1:00 p.m., weather permitting.

~Dons~