Sunday sweep secures series for Storm

Offensive explosion backed up by outstanding Friend performance

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LOS ANGELES – Dixie State College knocked around 24 hits in game one of a highly offensive doubleheader Sunday and received its most solid starting outing from senior pitcher Sam Friend (Las Vegas, NV/Centennial) in the series finale as the Red Storm defeated the host Golden Eagles of Cal State Los Angeles twice, 21-18 and 6-0 (7 inn.), in West Region action.

The Red Storm (3-1) took three of four during the weekend series – a feat that DSC accomplished at the end of the 2012 season in a series at Bruce Hurst Field.

“Our guys scratched and clawed their way to a huge series win against a good CSULA club,” said skipper Chris Pfatenhauer. “We are thrilled to get out of L.A. with a 3-1 weekend.”

In game one, the run scoring came early and often for both teams. Jordan Hanley (Las Vegas. NV/Bonanza) had an RBI single after a sac bunt moved Garrett Nash (Draper, UT/Jordan) into scoring position. Four batters later, Bryson Kenolio (Mililani, HI/Kamehameha Schools) snuck one through the left side for two more runs.

Hanley sparked a six-run second with his second RBI of the game with a single to left. Mitch Manning (Kaysville, UT/Davis) doubled to into the gap to push Hanley across the plate. Cedric Johnson (Thatcher, AZ/Thatcher) and Kris Kaplan (Las Vegas, NV/Cimarron Memorial) added RBI singles. Yuto Kata (Chiba, Japan/Juan Diego (Utah)) closed the scoring with a two-run blooper single into left field for a 9-2 lead.

The Golden Eagles (1-3) closed within three runs through four innings before Dixie State exploded for their biggest inning of the season. #D.J. Andrade# began onslaught with a double. Nash followed with an RBI double two batters later. With two outs, Manning singled to right field for two runs and Kenolio was plunked with the bags loaded for an RBI. Andrade returned to the plate for a second time and doubled again, this time earning a pair of runs batted in. The final two runs came when a pitch hit Nash and Colton Yack (South Jordan, UT/Bingham) walked with the bags full. Dixie State plated eight runs on six hits to build a 17-6 lead.

The Storm added single runs in the sixth and seventh. Kata walked with the bases loaded for the first tally. Ryan Westcott used his first at-bat of the game for an RBI single in the seventh.

Nash added his third RBI with a single in the eighth inning and Tyler Slesk (Bellingham, WA/Meridian) doubled home the final run. Nash paced all DSC hitters with four hits.

Each tally proved necessary as CSULA scored 18 runs on 21 hits. Kort Christoffersen (Ogden, UT/Weber) provided the only shutdown inning of the Golden Eagle offense with a scoreless ninth to earn his first save. Josh Mooney (American Fork, UT/American Fork) earned the win (1-0) in relief despite being knocked around for eight runs on seven hits over two innings.

The series finale saw the best pitching performance of the early season courtesy of Friend, the senior southpaw. Last seen shutting down Chico State in the NCAA West Regional last May in Oregon, Friend filled up scoreless innings to alleviate pressure from an exhausted DSC bullpen.

“Sam came up huge for us in the final game.” Pfatenhauer said. “He gave our bullpen a well needed rest.”

Friend scattered four hits over six innings for the win (1-0). He struck out eight while walking five. Christofferson closed the shutout with a scoreless seventh inning.

Nash continued his fine day plating the first two runs in the second inning with a double into right center. Andrade squeezed home Kaplan in the fourth frame for a 3-0 lead.

Cedric Johnson (Thatcher, AZ/Thatcher) launched his second homer of the year – a solo shot – in the sixth inning to right center field. Two more insurance runs crossed in the seventh inning when Manning walked with the bases loaded and Nash scored on a CSULA fielding error.

Nash and Kaplan each had to hits in the nightcap accounting for four of DSC's six total safeties.

The Red Storm travels to Peoria, Ariz., for two games with the Chinese National Team on Feb. 14 and 15. China is in preparation for the World Baseball Classic and will test their staff against Dixie State. Further details on the unique series are forthcoming this week on DixieAthletics.com.

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