Winning a game in the Southwestern League was all the Durango High School softball team needed to keep state tournament hopes alive.

The Demons split a doubleheader Saturday at Montrose with a 17-15 loss in the first game before they put together a 9-2 victory in Game 2.

“We should’ve had the first one, but Montrose came back in the last inning to beat us. It was really painful, but the win in the second game was really good for us,” DHS head coach Chelsea Rodriguez said in a phone message to The Durango Herald.

DHS (7-11, 1-9 SWL) led the first game 15-11 through 5½ innings, but the Indians (7-9-1, 2-4-1 SWL) rallied to earn the victory.

“We were hitting really well, but they came back and outhit us when they needed it,” Rodriguez said.

Katelyn DeLuche, a DHS senior, hit a three-run home run in the second game. It was her first homer of the year.

“We came out on fire. Alexys Vidunas hit well, and Rebekah Ford was a rock for us at the plate all day,” Rodriguez said. “A lot of girls got hits when we needed them, and we shut Montrose down with very little issue.”

Camille Bisbee (reliever) and Augusta Brockus (starter) split time in the circle in Game 1 for DHS, and Brockus and Vidunas each pitched in Game 2.

Durango, Montezuma-Cortez and Montrose all sit at the bottom of the SWL behind the Class 5A teams. But, with the three Class 4A teams all sharing similar league records, all remain in play for a postseason berth.

“If we beat Cortez on Tuesday, and then Cortez beats Montrose in a makeup game, then there will be a tiebreaker,” Rodriguez said. “We very well could get there. The girls have worked really hard, and I would love to see the girls get it.”

heraldsports@ durangoherald.com