ST. GEORGE, UTAH – Aaron Friend (Las Vegas. NV/Centennial HS) lined a double to tie the game in the seventh inning and blasted the go-ahead, two-run home run in the eighth inning highlighting Dixie State's 11-9 comeback victory over Lewis-Clark State College Friday afternoon at Bruce Hurst Field.

The Red Storm extended their current win streak to six improving their season record to 29-17. They defeated the fifth-ranked NAIA-powerhouse for just the third time in 10 all-time games. Lewis-Clark State dropped to 34-12 losing only for the third time away from home.

Friend had been quiet in his first three at-bats reaching base once on an error. His cue-shot double to right field plated two tying runs in the seventh. He should have never batted in the eighth, but a throwing error on a Tyson Littlewood (St. George. UT/Pine View HS) grounder brought Friend to the plate with the go-ahead in scoring position. On the third-pitch, he lined a ball toward the short fence in right-center field. When the ball crossed over the yellow line, the Red Storm had an 11-9 lead. Friend finished 2-for-5 with 4 RBI.

Drew Oldfield (Aurora, CO/Rangeview) gave DSC its first lead tagging a fastball to dead-center for a grand slam in fourth. His team-leading 15th longball came after three consecutive singles to load the bags.

Reliever Phil Finley (Washington. UT/Pine View HS) (3-2) earned the victory recording three crucial outs in the eighth inning after Lewis-Clark State had posted a pair of runs. His inning was saved by a diving catch by Abe Candaleria (Camarillo. CA/Camarillo HS) in left field to end the frame.

Todd Morlock (Magna, UT /Taylorsville) breezed through a 1-2-3 ninth notching his seventh save.

LCSC righty Dustin Willis received the loss (5-1) after offering the Friend homer.

The Storm had 10 hits on the day led by Friend and Alex Rosenhan (Highland. UT/Alta HS) with two each. The Warriors knocked 15 hits paced by Josh Ashenbrenner with three. DH Bernard Pena had two solo homers in back-to-back innings.

Games two and three of the series are scheduled for Saturday's doubleheader beginning at 1:00pm.