BASE: Storm Secure Share of PWC Title; Split with GCU

Lose 7-4 in 12; win 6-1 behind Blanchard stellar effort

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Box Scores: Game 1 - GCU 7, DSC 4 (12) | Game 2 - DSC 6, GCU 1

ST. GEORGE, Utah – Dixie State College earned at least a share of the Pacific West Conference baseball title with a 6-1 victory in the final game of a set with Grand Canyon University at Bruce Hurst Field. The Antelopes prevailed in Friday's early game 7-4 in 12 innings.

The Red Storm improved to 22-10 in the PWC (27-14 overall), clinching the league's best win total. Hawaii Pacific sits at 14-10 with eight conference games remaining. GCU completed their league run at 16-16 with a 21-23 overall mark.

Jordon Blanchard (Henderson, NV/Coronado) saved a weary pitching staff tossing a complete game in the DSC victory. His effort for a shutout was thwarted by a two-out solo home run by Kalab Evans. Blanchard struck out five in his most dominating effort of the year.

Tyson Littlewood (St. George. UT/Pine View HS) and Trevor Goff (Las Vegas, NV/Centennial) led the offensive charge in support of their pitcher. In the first inning, Littlewood blasted a two-run home run off the scoreboard. He finished the game 2-for-4. Goff paced all Red Storm hitters with three hits including a bunt single in the fourth.

A triple from Tony Nelson (St. George. UT/Dixie) leading off the third inning and a two-run double by Joe Andrade (Yuma, AZ/San Luis ) in the fourth capped off three extra-base hits.

Coltin White suffered the loss for GCU (6-4).

Friday's first game saw a combined 11 runs, 34 hits, six errors and 40 left on base. The last stat ranks second all-time for combined left on base for both teams, according to the 2011 NCAA Division-II Record Book (the record is 41 set in 2001).

A sacrifice fly from Colin Courtland in the 12th inning opened the floodgates. Two addition runs were all that Courtland needed to nail down a win in relief. DSC's Bryce Anderson (Cedar City, UT/Cedar HS) took the loss allowing all three GCU runs in the fateful frame.

Littlewood and Ammon Zitting (Pleasant Grove. UT/Lone Peak) each had three hits.

Defense proved to be a shining point for the Red Storm. Colton Yack (South Jordan, UT/Bingham) and Zitting each turned highlight-worthy double plays keeping GCU off the scoreboard.

The 'Lopes knocked 20 hits in their victory – four came from R.J. Etchebarren.

With conference play over, Dixie State prepares for a short road trip to Grand Junction, Colo. to face Mesa State College on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

The regular season concludes next weekend (Friday/Saturday) at home with four games against Arizona Christian College.

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