Casey Wonnenberg

SDSU performed well at home as they swept NDSU in a three-game series this weekend.Tyson Bothof became the first SDSU pitcher this season to record a nine-inning complete game as the Jacks defeated NDSU 10-1 Saturday. The Jacks came from behind in both games to win 4-3 and 9-6 over the Bison.Bothof, a senior from Green Bay, Wis., improved to 2-4 on the season as he struck out eight. Bothof retired the first nine and last six batters he faced. The Bison’s lone run came in the fifth.Freshman outfielder Nick Adams and red-shirted freshman outfielder Tim Hanigan led the Jacks with three hits each. Adams drove in four runs.SDSU took the lead in the fourth in Sunday’s opener. Senior first baseman Greg Geary drove in the Jackrabbits’ only earned run of the game with a leadoff home run in the fourth. Senior Pat Farrell scored when NDSU misplayed junior Kyle Sytsma’s single. Geary’s home run was his sixth of the season and 39th of his SDSU career. Right-handed junior Gary Olechoski earned the save.The Jacks were out-hit by the Bison 8-6.In the final game of the series, SDSU starter Francisco Torres faced nine batters in the first three innings. NDSU rallied to score five runs in the top of the fourth. Hanigan’s three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth brought SDSU back within one. The Jacks replied in the bottom of the sixth inning by scoring five of their own. Hanigan and Geary led the Jacks with two hits and three RBIs each.Olechoski earned the save again. He now has five on the season.SDSU improved its record to 10-24 for the season, while NDSU fell to 2-28-1. The Jacks face the University of Minnesota at Sioux Falls Stadium at 3 p.m. Wednesday.Mark Ekeland and the Jackrabbits’ seven seniors were honored in the series against NDSU.Ekeland coached SDSU baseball for 20 years, from 1984 to 2004. He posted a career record of 561-345-2 over 20 seasons.His teams captured five North Central Conference Championships and won the 1984 Division II World Series.Ekeland received many personal awards for his coaching efforts. He was voted NCC Coach of the Year five times and the 1984 NCAA Regional Coach of the Year.Ekeland, 53, retired as head baseball coach in 2004 due to his health. He was diagnosed with a liver disease in 1994 and received a liver transplant in 2004He now works as the Intramural Coordinator for Special Projects at SDSU.Saturday was declared Mark Ekeland Day statewide by Gov. Mike Rounds.The seniors recognized on Sunday as part of Senior Day were: Tony Lane, Pat Farrell, Greg Geary, Josh Elliot, Tyson Bothof, Francisco Torres and Tigh Surdez.

#1.885090:1523149197.jpg:SDSUvsNDSU01_ty c.jpg:Chris Iverson gets to the base before the ball does.: