Offense explodes late, DSU sweeps MSUB

Christiansen earn winin relief

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SAINT GEORGE – Being outhit by an opponent, having your starting pitcher knocked out of the game after recording two outs in the first inning, and surrendering 11 walks are usually elements leading to a baseball team being blown out.

Sunday afternoon at Bruce Hurst Field, the 24^th-ranked Dixie State baseball team battled back from an early deficit and exploded offensively in the late innings for a 17-6 win over Montana State-Billings to sweep a four-game West region series.

Junior starter Bubba Blau (Roy, UT/Roy) did not make it out of the first inning. In his first appearance in two weeks, Blau walked three and uncorked a wild pitch for the first MSUB (2-10-1) run.

“We like Bubba a lot,” DSU head coach Chris Pfatenhauer said. “He got hurt in his last outing and after his rehab, we were hoping to get four innings from him.”

Pfatenhauer added a lack of defense behind Blau and the relievers hurt the Red Storm early.

Trailing by three after two frames, DSU knotted the game in the third. Senior shortstop DJ Andrade (Waipahu, HI/Damien Memorial) reached base safely on the first of six MSUB errors on the day. The bases filled on a single by sophomore third baseman Yuto Kata (Chiba, Japan/Juan Diego (Utah)) and senior center fielder Garrett Nash (Draper, UT/Jordan) being hit by a pitch. A sacrifice fly by senior left fielder Jordan Hanley (Las Vegas. NV/Bonanza) brought home Andrade.

With two out, a fly ball from junior designated hitter Kris Kaplan (Las Vegas, NV/Cimarron Memorial) was dropped in left field plating two more runs.

Senior reliever Austin Christiansen (Las Vegas, NV/Legacy (NV)) filled 3.2 relief innings while the Red Storm (7-1) settled in offensively.

“I knew I would have to come in after the early innings,” Christiansen said. “We (the bullpen) were well rested after yesterday's games, so I know I had to be mentally prepared to throw strikes.”

The defense behind Christiansen (W, 1-0) turned a pair of rally stymying double plays in the fourth and fifth innings. DSU took its first lead in the home half of the fourth on Kata's two-out RBI infield single.

“Some guys stepped us and we keep grinding out after trailing this weekend,” Pfatenhauer said. “We stayed with our plan and didn't panic. We took advantage of their errors.”

Dixie State extended the lead to 7-3 with three runs in the fifth. Kaplan plated Hanley with a sacrifice fly. Senior second baseman Colton Yack (South Jordan, UT/Bingham) singled to right for the second run and evaded MSUB defenders long enough in a rundown to allow sophomore first baseman Kevin Kline (Las Vegas, NV/Rancho) to score from third base.

MSUB closed within a run, 7-6, in the seventh inning before junior Cody White (Lacey, WA/Timberline) induced a ground ball to end the threat.

The Red Storm countered with 10 unanswered runs on six hits while the Jackets committed three errors in the final two innings.

White and junior Kody Christoffersen (Ogden, UT/Weber) did not allow a hit and struck out two in closing out the sweep.

Kata had three of the Storm's 10 hits. Hanley, Kaplan and senior right fielder Cedric Johnson (Thatcher, AZ/Thatcher) each added two hits.

“I think we can play better,” Pfatenhauer added. “I thought we would play better defensively up to this point and our pitching will improve. But, I will take our squad being 7-1 through two series."

Dixie State opens Pacific West Conferene play next Saturday, March 2, at 4 p.m. against Point Loma.

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