Antelopes leap to Friday DH sweep

Storm lead for second place trimmed to one game

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ST. GEORGE – Upon quick reflection of Friday's Pacific West Conference doubleheader at Bruce Hurst Field, Dixie State College is going to remember the multiple opportunities they had and the prospects left on base. The Red Storm dropped both games to visiting Grand Canyon University by scores of 3-1 and 12-5.

Over 14 innings of play, DSC stranded 20 runners on base – nine in the closely contest first game and 11 more in the second game, which got away from the Storm (28-17, 24-15 PWC) late. Grand Canyon pulled within a game of second place in the PacWest, sitting at 26-21 on the year and 23-16 in league.

Game one had the telltale signs of a pitcher's duel early. DSC's Mike Dedrick (Cedar City, UT/Canyon View) and GCU's Jorge Perez each notched scoreless frames in the first and second. The Lopes took a 2-0 lead in the third after a pair of singles, a sacrifice bunt and a two-run double.

Dixie State cut in to the lead in the home half of the fourth inning when Cedric Johnson (Thatcher, AZ/Thatcher) scored from second on a double down the right field line by Mitch Manning (Kaysville, UT/Davis). The Storm missed out of further chances, leaving a pair of runners aboard in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

GCU added an insurance run in the seventh. Perez went the distance for GCU in the victory.

Dedrick took the loss (5-4) allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits over six innings. Johnson and Manning both went 2-for-3 for DSC.

The nightcap saw the lead see-saw early, Dixie take a lead after five innings, and GCU explode for nine runs over the last two innings.

Johnson began the scoring early with an RBI groundout. Jayden Darrington (Washington, UT/Desert Hills) added an RBI sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead.

Four consecutive hits for GCU in the second pushed across three runs. DSC countered for a 4-3 advantage on a two-run single by Taylor Stone (Sierra Vista, AZ/Buena (AZ)) to right field. Stone excelled in his first offense start. He later added a line drive home run (1) to left field extending the Storm lead to 5-3.

Jordon Blanchard (Henderson, NV/Coronado) tossed 3.1 solid innings of relief in support of starter Sam Friend (Las Vegas, NV/Centennial), but the relievers in the sixth and seventh innings struggled to stop the Lopes. Kyle DiMartino (Las Vegas, NV/Durango) retired just one of three batters he faced. Daniel Zapata (Mesa, AZ/Westwood) gave up the go-ahead run in the sixth and was tagged for four more runs in the seventh on a grand slam home run.

Aaron Mees led GCU with three hits. Garrett Nash (Draper, UT/Jordan) and Ammon Zitting (Pleasant Grove. UT/Lone Peak) each had two hits for the Storm.

The series finale is Saturday, schedule for first pitch at noon.

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