ST. GEORGE, Utah (NCAA) – Dixie State had two heroes in its 3-2 win over Hawaii Pacific on Sunday.

                Ashley McFarland (Layton. UT/Layton High School) had a bases-loaded triple in the top of the seventh inning to give the Red Storm (39-10) their first lead of the game. Starting pitcher Lauren Folta (Erda. UT/Tooele High School), who gave way to Brittnie Whipple in the bottom of the seventh, re-entered the game and got the final two outs to cement the victory. 

                With the win Dixie State claimed the NCAA Division II West Sub-Region championship and earned a berth in next week's NCAA Super-Regionals against Cal State Stanislaus (34-19) winner over Sonoma State University in the other Western Sub-regionals. The games will be played in St. George, UT where the Red Storm is 22-2 on their home field.

                Hawaii Pacific (42-12) took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Kozy Toriano opened with a single, moved up on Taija Acierto's sacrifice bunt and came home on Laine Shikuma's single. The Sea Warriors got their second run in the bottom of the sixth. Shikuma singled and took second on Nicole Riviera's sacrifice bunt. Ciera Senas's single brought the run home.

                Dixie State's rally in the seventh started when HPU's Courtney Kessell hit Jaki Hawkins (Lakewood. WA/Lakes High School) with a pitch. Kessell then got the next two outs. Dabney McIntyre (Taylorsville. UT/Taylorsville High School) singled and Shantae Hunter (Idaho Falls. ID/Idaho Falls High School) walked to load the bases.

                McFarland then unloaded them.

                “I love those kind of situations,” McFarland said. “I felt like I was going to hit it but I didn't know where. I wish it had gone over the fence, but it didn't.

                Whipple, Dixie State's closer, came on in the bottom of the seventh. She got the first out, then walked Krystal Plunkett, Maile Kim and Kozy Toriano.

                DSC coach Beth Collett then brought Folta back into the game with the tying run on third base.

                Folta got HPU's Taija Acierto to pop up to short left, then snagged Shikuma's line drive for the final out.

                “I didn't think' it was just 'catch it,'” Folta said of that final play.

                “It just feels great,” Folta said of the championship. “I think our team is just good enough to take it all the way.”

                Collett said she was thrilled with the victory. “It doesn't have to be pretty to win. As long as they have an out left, they will fight.”

                Hawaii Pacific coach Bryan Nakasone was complimentary in his final comments. “I think Dixie has a great team. Hopefully then represent the Pac West (Pacific West Conference) and take it all the way.”

                Folta scattered seven hits in improving to 13-3. Kessell gave up six hits as she dropped to 20-8.

                Shikuma led Hawaii Pacific with two hits. McIntyre had two hits to lead Dixie State.

                Dixie State is in its first year of eligibility for NCAA postseason competition. The softball team, which finished second to Hawaii Pacific in the conference race, was the school's first team to qualify. Dixie State joined the NCAA three years ago following a long history of success in the junior college ranks.