Jessie Kaonohi (Lancaster. CA/Antelope Valley High School), Dabney McIntyre (Taylorsville. UT/Taylorsville High School), and Haley Schumers (Plain City. UT/Freemont High School) provided the perfect finish to Dixie State's Senior Day on Saturday.

            Kaonohi pitched a three-hitter and Schumers drove in four runs as the Red Storm downed Grand Canyon 9-1 in the second game of a Pacific West Conference softball doubleheader on Saturday. Dixie State (19-5, 36-10) won the first game 13-8.

            In addition to her pitching, Kaonohi had an incredible defensive play to her credit. She speared Samantha Tiefenthaler's line drive back to the box in midair and threw out Yasmeen Watkins at first base to complete a double play. The Antelopes (12-9, 32-24) had one run in and two players on base before Kaonohi made that grab.

            “That was reflexes,” Kaonohi said of her ability to get her glove up in time to make the play. “I haven't been scared too often, but I was mad because my life was in my hands.”

            With the two wins the Red Storm wrapped up the regular season. They will now wait until April 27 to see if they're invited to the NCAA Division II West Regionals.

            “This was the perfect ending to the regular season,” said DSC coach Beth Collett. “It's been a fantastic season. Now we're looking forward to the postseason. We still have a lot of things to do this season.”

            Although the team doesn't have any more regular season games, Collett said the Red Storm will continue to practice and to prepare. “I think we're going to see some positives from this time off. We'll use the time to heal up and get ready.”

            Schumers helped get Kaonohi the lead early when she drove in two runs with a single in the first inning. Shantae Hunter (Idaho Falls. ID/Idaho Falls High School) had a single and Ashley McFarland (Layton. UT/Layton High School) had a double ahead of her. Breanna Egge (Las Vegas. NV/Centennial High School) added a two-run home run.

            The Red Storm got a solo home run from Dabney McIntyre (Taylorsville. UT/Taylorsville High School) in the second and added a run on Jaki Hawkins (Lakewood. WA/Lakes High School)' sacrifice fly in the third. They finished the game with three runs in the fifth. Schumers had a two-run home run and, after Kelsey Mendenhall (Tooele. UT/Tooele High School) singled and Egge drew a walk, Hawkins singled to end the game on the run-rule.

            McIntyre, Mendenhall and Schumers each had two of Dixie State's 10 hits.

            In game one, the Antelopes built a 5-0 lead in their half of the third inning. The Red Storm came back with three runs of their own in their half. They eventually tied the game at 5-5 before Grand Canyon took an 8-5 lead in the sixth.

            Dixie State responded with an eight-run outburst in its half of that inning. Hawkins had a pinch-hit three-run home run to highlight that inning.

            “Pinch-hitting is a tough thing to do,” Hawkins said. “I had to keep my mind in there. My dad gave me a book that talked about having your hitting eye when you come to the plate. I stepped into the box and kept my hitting eye on.

            “It feels so good helping my team out,” Hawkins concluded.

            The Red Storm finished that game with 13 hits. McIntyre, Hunter, Mendenhall and Egge each had two.