Box Score ST. GEORGE, UTAH – Dixie State College cruised Thursday night to a 9-1 victory over Grand Canyon University behind the solid arm of senior Skyler Southwick (Las Vegas. NV/Basic HS) and the bombing bat of junior Aaron Friend (Las Vegas. NV/Centennial HS). The duo paced the Red Storm in a crucial game toward a potential Pacific West Conference championship.
Southwick (5-5) went the distance allowing just one run on seven hits while striking out a season-high seven batters. Friend blasted three home runs – two solos and a three-run shot – in his 4-for-4 night.
The Red Storm improved to 25-17 on the year and 12-9 in the Pac West. Grand Canyon dropped its eighth in a row moving to 13-30, 7-10 in the conference.
Dixie State never trailed thanks to Friend's leadoff homer in the bottom of the first off Casey Collins (L, 4-7). Tony Nelson (St. George. UT/Dixie) added an RBI double in the third to make the score 2-0.
GCU plated its only run in the fourth with a two-out rally capped by Jay Green's RBI single.
The Storm plated the next seven run unanswered. Friend tallied four of the runs with his second and third long balls of the night. Tyson Littlewood (St. George. UT/Pine View HS) also went yard hitting a solo home run in the sixth.
DSC pounded out 14 hits led by Friend's four and Nelson's three. Brett Adams (Sandy, UT/Alta), Abe Candaleria (Camarillo. CA/Camarillo HS) and Littlewood each added two. The Lopes had seven safeties paced by John Stanko with two.
The series continues Friday with two seven-inning games beginning at 4:00pm.
