Box Score LAS VEGAS, NV-The Dixie State College softball team looked to rebound from a sub-par tournament showing thus far and did so quit well by defeating host school Montana State Billings 7-4.

Dixie State (3-2)  jumped on top in the first inning. Bailie Hicken (Cedar Hills. UT, Lone Peak High School) opened the inning by reaching on the shortstops error. Cassi Merrill (Calgary, Alberta, Foundations for the Future Charter Academy, College of Southern Idaho) sacrifice bunted Hicken to second base and then Anna Cue (Murrieta Valley, CA/Murrieta Valley High School) singled to left center scoring Hicken giving the Red Storm the early 1-0 lead.

In the top of second after Kylee Higgins (Layton. UT/Layton High School) walked and Kourtine Schlcater singled up the middle, Hicken battled through an incredible 10 pitch at bat and deposited the ball over the centerfield fence for her first home run of the year. The home run gave the Red Storm a 4-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, Lauren Folta (Erda. UT/Tooele High School) walked the first two batters of the inning and they both would come around and eventually score on a Taisha Maier single. Folta would strand a runner at second and third, but not before allowing the Yellowjackets to cut the Red Storm lead from four runs to two.

Hicken would begin the top of the seventh by beating out a bunt at the thrid baseman. Cassie Merrill would follow with a single to left field and then Shantae Hunter (Idaho Falls. ID/Idaho Falls High School) would double to left center scoring both Hicken and Merrill. After being advanced to third by Kelsey Mendenhall (Tooele. UT/Tooele High School), Hunter would score on a Ashley McFarland (Layton. UT/Layton High School) single to right field. Dixie State now led 7-2.

Little did DSC know that those runs scored in the top half of the seventh would be needed, but the Yellowjackets would out the full-court press on Folta in the bottom of the frame. Bobbie Lee  singled to the hole at shortstop and then Amanda Howard would homer to leftcenter field cutting the Red Storm lead to three at 7-4. Despite allowing runners to reach first and third with outs, Rachel Eisenmann would come to plate, representing the tying run. Folta would get Eisenmann to pop out to McFarland to end the game.

Hunter would lead the Red Storm with three hits, Hicken, Cue, and Breanna Egge (Las Vegas. NV/Centennial High School) would each add two hits a piece. Folta went the distance earning her second win of the year. She pitched her best game of the year by stikingout seven in seven innings of work.

Dixie State will play a doubleheader with Southern Utah University on Saturday Feb 20th, first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM. It is our annual THINK PINK/SWING FOR LIFE game where we honor survivors of Breast Cancer. Those in attendance will receive free admission into the game.