HILO, HAWAII – Surviving a four-run Hawaii-Hilo eighth inning, Dixie State College held on to a 5-4 victory Wednesday night at Wong Stadium to close out their eight-day, 10-game island road trip.

The Red Storm improved to 24-17 on the season and 11-9 in the Pacific West while Hawaii-Hilo fell to 18-17, 9-11 Pac West.

Preston Grimes (Taylorsville, UT/Taylorsville) (5-1) tossed seven shutout innings allowing four hits and striking out six to earn the victory. Todd Morlock (Magna, UT /Taylorsville) netted his fifth save pitching a scoreless ninth.

Dixie State plated a pair of runs in the first with RBI singles by #Jimmy Dever (Tuscon. AZ/Catalina Foothills HS)# and Tim Mott (Las Vegas. NV/Las Vegas HS). Another pair of singles by #Tyson Littlewood (St. George. UT/Pine View HS)# and #Aaron Friend (Las Vegas. NV/Centennial HS)# in the sixth inning pushed the lead to 4-0. #Darren Wilstead (Washington. UT/Pine View HS)# brought home the eventual winning run with a two out double in the seventh plating Dever.

DSC relievers #Tim McMahon (Littleton. CO/Heritage)# and #Jayson Madson (Tremonton. UT/Bear River HS)# surrendered four runs on three singles and a lead-off double putting Hilo down by a run, 5-4. Morlock pitched the ninth and stranded the tying run on second getting Hilo's Peter Rodgers to strike out to end the game.

The Storm pounded out 14 hits led by #Drew Oldfield (Aurora, CO/Rangeview)# and Wilstead with three.

The club ended their Hawaiian road trip 4-5.

Dixie State returns to action at home on Thursday, April 23 against the Antelopes of Grand Canyon University. The four-game series begins at 7pm on Thursday.

Listen to the entire DSC-GCU series on DixieAtheltics.com with John Potter.