Cue Leads Red Storm to sweep over Montana State Billings

2HR's, 6 RBI and four hits for Anna Cue

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Tweet #DSCsb

SAINT GEORGE, UT - Anna Cue (Murrieta Valley, CA/Murrieta Valley High School) had four hits, including two home runs and six RBI to lead the No. 24 ranked Dixie State softball team to a 5-3, 8-0 sweep of Montana State Billings on Wednesday evening at Karl Brooks Field.

Cue who had a strong freshman campaign and an even better sophomore year where she was named the 2011 PacWest Player of the Year, but followed with a less than stellar junior season. She hit over .400 each of the first two years and fell to the mid .260 as a junior.

If tonight is any indication that she wants redemption from last seasons performance, the Red Storm are in for a monster year from their senior first baseman. In 2012 she only had four home runs in 38 games and today she hit two monster shots over the left field fence to help lead DSC to victory.

"She had quality at-bats today, even the two times she got out," said head coach Randy Simkins. "She hit the ball hard and was really locked in."

In game one, the Yellowjackets jumped on PacWest Preseason Pitcher of the Year Mattie Snow (Tooele, UT/Tooele High School) early, allowing three runs in the second inning. But as many of her performances in the past, she improved as the game advanced.

In the first inning Snow was the benefactor of a stellar defensive play from sophomore centerfielder Courtney Hine (San Dimas, CA/San Dimas High School). With a runner on second base, Emily Osborn singled up the middle and it appeared that it would score the first MSUB run. But, Hine fielded the ball and threw a one-hop bullet to catcher Marla Reiter (Rolinda, CA/Central High School) to retire the runner and turn the Yellowjackets away.

In the fourth inning the Red Storm jumped on Yellowjacket starter Mary Grace Bywater for two runs. Hine drew a one out walk and Reiter followed with an RBI triple to left centerfield to score the first run of the season.

Two batters later, senior Jaelle Judkins (Saint George, UT/Dixie High School) beat out an infield single that plated Reiter from third base. DSC trailed 3-2 after four innings.

Snow continued to get stronger as the game progressed, she held MSUB scoreless and to just three runners on base over the final five frames.

The Red Storm picked up their final three runs in the 5th inning. Sheila Gelter (St. George, UT/Dixie High School) led off with a single up the middle and Cue followed with a towering shot over the right field fence to give DSC a 4-3 lead. But, they were not finished.

Courtney Sherwin (Mesa, AZ/Red Mountain High School) and Hine walked and Reiter reached on hit by pitch to load the bases with one out. Judkins picked her second RBI of the game with a bases loaded walk to score the final DSC run.

The Red Storm offense stranded 12 runners, but pounded out 10 hits in the game one. Cue led the way with three and freshman Siera Phillips (Mesa, AZ/Red Mountain High School) added two in her Red Storm debut.

Snow earned her sixteenth complete game of her career, stuck out seven MSUB batters, and walked just two to earn the victory.

In game two, it was all the Red Storm as they scored four runs in the first, three in the third and one in the fifth to run-rule the Yellowjackets.

DSC jumped on the back of sophomore starter Michelle Duncan (Gilbert, AZ/Gilbert High School) who had MSUB hitters perplexed the whole game. She walked one and struck out five in the run-rule shortened game.

Senior Kylee Bufton (Spanish Fork, UT/Spanish Fork High School) made her 2013 debut, with two hits. Hine also added two hits and two RBI. Cue hit a three run home run in the first inning and then picked up her fourth RBI with an RBI groundout to give DSC the victory. DSC finished with 11 hits in game two.

"I was proud of the way we battled today," concluded Simkins. "It was a good test before this weekend."

The Red Storm travel to Las Vegas Friday for the Fourth Annual Desert Stinger Tournament hosted by Montana State Billings. DSC will play five games over three days, with the first coming on Friday night at 8 pm MT against Simon Fraser.

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