FARGO, N.D.--Andi Padilla tossed a two-hit shutout in game one and Melissa Chmielewski delivered a key two-run double in the second as North Dakota State University swept South Dakota State University by the scores of 5-0 and 3-2 in a Summit League doubleheader played Tuesday, April 28, before 145 spectators at the Ellig Sports Complex.

North Dakota State (30-16, 17-3 Summit) and South Dakota State (9-38, 6-14 Summit) square off at noon Wednesday, April 29, in the third game of the series at the Ellig Sports Complex. The game was originally scheduled for 3 p.m., but due to incoming rain the start time was moved up.

The Bison reached the 30 win mark for the third straight season with the sweep. North Dakota State has a dozen 30-win seasons in its softball history and had nine straight 30-win seasons from 1996-2004. NDSU trails Western Illinois (26-17, 17-2 Summit League) by a half-game in the league standings.

Padilla, a senior from Chino, Calif., recorded her second two-hitter and sixth shutout of the season against the Jackrabbits in the opener. She allowed singles by Morgan McCabe in the second and Brittany Postma in the seventh. Padilla overcame three walks and struck out three to improve to 19-9.

Padilla received help from the defense. In the second, catcher Kelly Cantrell picked off a SDSU baserunner at second base. It was Cantrell's eighth pickoff in Summit League play and her ninth of the season. The Bison turned a double play in the sixth inning when shortstop Nicole Rivera snared a soft liner and threw to Melissa Chmielewski at first to record NDSU's 21st double play of the season.

Left fielder Elisa Victa and Cantrell each went 3 for 3 with two RBIs to spark North Dakota State's 11-hit attack. Cantrell's double to center in the third inning put the Bison ahead 1-0.

NDSU extended the lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning. With two outs, Rivera beat out an infield single to chase home one run and Victa lined a single over the third baseman's head that drew chalk to plate the other.

The Bison closed out the scoring in the sixth inning. Cantrell stroked a RBI single to right field and Victa laid down the run-scoring squeeze bunt single to knock in the other.

Jenna Marston (4-21) recorded the loss in the first game for the Jackrabbits. Marston struck out five and walked two.

Hits were hard to come by for North Dakota State in the second game. South Dakota State pitcher Pam Nicholson (4-12) limited the Bison to only two hits. She walked three and struck out four.

South Dakota State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning on Krystal Higgerson's line drive two-run home run over the left center fence. It was Higgerson's fourth home run of the season.

The Bison did all of its scoring in the bottom of the third. Taylor Lynn led off with a single and moved to second on a Rivera sacrifice bunt. Cantrell walked to put runners at first and second. After Nicholson recorded a strikeout, Chmielewski laced a two-out double to right field to clear the bases.

Chmielewski then recorded her third stolen base of the season and fourth of her career to advance to third. She scored the eventual game-winning run on a SDSU throwing error.

Kim Westendorf (9-4) settled down from the rocky start to improve to 7-0 in Summit League play. Westendorf struck out four and issued no walks. She also took advantage of alert defensive plays. Lynn threw out a baserunner attempting to stretch a single into a double in the third and Rivera turned in several steady plays at shortstop.