Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ST. GEORGE - Evidence of why Dixie State has been tough to beat was on display Thursday at Karl Brooks Field.



Not only can the Red Storm swing the bats - they entered the doubleheader averaging 6.6 runs per game - they can render the opponent's aluminum worthless. too.



Haley Schumers (Plain City. UT/Freemont High School) and Lauren Folta (Erda. UT/Tooele High School) threw shutouts as DSC swept a twinbill from Hawaii Hilo 9-0 and 2-0. The Red Storm improved to 4-0 in Pacific West Conference play and 11-1 overall.



"Our pitching did a great job." said DSC coach Beth Collett. "This is the second time Lauren has really dominated for us. and Haley is consistent."



Two terrific plays behind Folta saved the day for DSC in the seventh inning of Game 2.



The fleet-footed Sierra Green. the Vulcans' No. 2 hitter. led off the seventh with a low smash to first baseman Nellie Hardy. The Dixie High grad. playing purposefully out of position to better defense Green's speed. speared the ball halfway between Folta and bag. then threw to Shantae Hunter (Idaho Falls. ID/Idaho Falls High School) covering first.



Aisha Sueda followed with a single to right to bring up Sarah Weisskopf. Hawaii Hilo's cleanup hitter. Weisskopf hit a sizzling grounder to Hunter's left. Positioned at the traditional second base spot on the diamond. Hunter wheeled and threw to shortstop Ashley McFarland (Layton. UT/Layton High School). who fired to first to double up Weisskopf by an eyelash.



"I think it could have been a whole different ballgame if we didn't step our defense up in the last inning." said DSC's Breanna Egge (Las Vegas. NV/Centennial High School). who went 3-for-4 with two walks in the doubleheader. "Those balls were hit hard. If 'Tae would have missed that. they could have had two runners on base. "We just came through at the end."



Said Folta: "The defense was amazing. They had my back."



DSC's offense wasn't bad either.



Hunter went 3-for-3 with three runs scored in Game 1; teammates Dabney McIntyre (Taylorsville. UT/Taylorsville High School) (2-for-3). Hardy (2-for-3. 2 RBI). McFarland (2-for-3. 2 RBI) and Schumers (two-run walk-off single to run-rule the Vulcans) also fared well at the plate.



Egge said Weisskopf and reliever Christina Pedroza didn't go to their changeup as often in Game 1 as Amber Waracka did in the nightcap. There. Waracka kept DSC off the scoreboard in every inning except the third.



Hunter drove in Bailie Hicken (Cedar Hills. UT/Lone Peak High School) from second with a single. then Egge nearly ripped the ball out of the ballpark. The sophomore's blast hit the top of the left-field fence down the line and easily plated Hunter.



"She threw me one inside and I just turned on it. It was perfect." Egge said. "I started doing my home run jog and when it didn't (leave the yard) it was embarrassing. I was like 'shoot. I need to get to second.'"



Despite a roster containing nine freshmen - out of 16 total players - DSC continues to roll. Inexperience in no way indicates inability.



"I'm happy with the way my freshmen are playing. but not surprised." Collett said. "They're ballplayers. The leadership from our upperclassmen have led them in the right direction. They're ready to just hop in."