Dedrick, Red Storm defeat No. 10 Grand Canyon

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SAINT GEORGE, Utah – Senior starter Mike Dedrick (Cedar City, UT/Canyon View) did not allow an earned run over seven gutty innings Thursday while Kevin Kline (Las Vegas, NV/Rancho) fell a home run short of the cycle during Dixie State's series-opening 8-1 win over nationally ranked Grand Canyon at Bruce Hurst Field.

The Red Storm improved to 24-9 on the season and 17-8 in the PacWest banging out 12 hits against Jorge Perez (L, 5-3) and three other GCU pitchers. The Lopes (29-7, 22-3 PWC) have lost two straight since stringing 20 consecutive wins.

Dedrick worked out of several jam by inducing two inning-ending double plays, including the GCU frame they scored an unearned run without the benefit of a hit. He struck out eight en route to his seventh victory of the year. Bryce Anderson (Cedar City, UT/Cedar HS) retired all six batters he faced in relief in the last two innings.

DSU took a 1-0 lead in the fourth after Kline tripled and scored from third on a Mitch Manning (Kaysville, UT/Davis). Jordan Hanley (Las Vegas. NV/Bonanza) pushed the lead to 2-0 with a two-out double to right, plating Tyler Slesk (Bellingham, WA/Meridian).

Three straight hits – from Kline, Manning and a returning Cedric Johnson (Thatcher, AZ/Thatcher) - loaded the bags for the Storm in the sixth inning. Kris Kaplan (Las Vegas, NV/Cimarron Memorial), in a pinch hitting role, drew a walk for a 3-1 lead. Slesk added an RBI sacrifice fly and Hanley plated two more with a single to cap off a four-run frame.

Kline, leading the Storm offense with four hits, lined his second double of the game to left field for his lone RBI in the seventh. Kaplan fouled out to right scoring Kline for the final tally.

The top three in the lineup – Hanley, Colton Yack (South Jordan, UT/Bingham) and Kline – combined to go 9 for 15 with four runs and four RBI.

Games two and three of the series begin Friday from Hurst at 4 p.m.

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