BASE: Storm Comeback Falls Short

DSC splits series with APU; lose 7-5 on Tuesday

Soph OF Sam Friend

Box Score

Box Score

ST. GEORGE – Dixie State College fell behind by six runs after three innings, and despite a spirited comeback dropped the series finale to Azusa Pacific University 7-5 Tuesday at Bruce Hurst Field.

Sophomore outfielder Sam Friend (Las Vegas, NV/Centennial) had three hits including the club's first home run of the year – a solo shot to right field. Junior shortstop Ammon Zitting (Pleasant Grove. UT/Lone Peak) added two hits playing on his birthday.

Azusa Pacific (6-2) struck for four runs in the second inning off DSC starter Troy Hunter (Las Vegas, NV/Centennial) (L, 0-1) by reeling off six straight singles. “It was a matter of being too wild down the middle of the plate,” said DSC head coach Mike Littlewood in reference to the string of hits. “(APU) got like 13 hits and we watched them go by.”

Bryce Anderson (Cedar City, UT/Cedar HS) quelled the rally and filled four more innings allowing two runs on six hits.

Dixie State (1-1) used Friend's homer to propel the offense. After singles from Zitting and sophomore Colton Yack (South Jordan, UT/Bingham), a sacrifice fly from Joe Andrade (Yuma, AZ/San Luis ) capped the scoring in the Storm third inning.

Friend knocked in a second RBI in the fourth with a two-out, opposite field single to left.

Andrade pulled the Red Storm within a run with an RBI groundout in the seventh inning.

The Cougars used aggressive base running with two out in the eighth to push across an insurance run. Anthony Rodriguez stole home after Johnathan Erb initiated a rundown between first and second base.

Tim Lu earned the win in relief tossing two hitless frames. Starting right fielder Jason Plowman notched the save by stranding the tying run at first base.

APU outhit the Red Storm for the second straight game 14 to seven. Each team committed an error.

Dixie State returns to action Friday for the first two games of a three-game series with CSU San Bernardino. The first game of a scheduled doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.

NOTES: Littlewood was denied his 500th career coaching victory with Tuesday's loss. In his 16th year at Dixie State, Littlewood has compiled a 499-229 record including a junior college national championship in 2004.

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