Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
ST. GEORGE — The hits just keep on coming. Dixie State had no problem plowing through visiting Holy Names, defeating the Hawks 7-5 and 10-2 in Saturday afternoon's double header.
The wins improved DSU to 30-11 overall and 18-6 in conference play, good enough for third place in the Pac West. With eight home games remaining on the schedule the Red Storm are primed for a strong finish, and could potentially match last year's conference record should they win out.
Michelle Duncan (Gilbert, AZ/Gilbert High School) and Kate Coffey (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) were the winning pitchers, with Duncan striking out a season high nine batters in Game 1 and Coffey pitching all six innings in Game 2.
“I thought they both threw the ball really well today,” head coach Randy Simkins said.
DSU scored six runs in the first inning of Game 1, then held Holy Names scoreless for five innings.
The Hawks, now facing relief pitcher Mattie Snow (Tooele, UT/Tooele High School), struck back in the seventh.
With the bases loaded, Susan Robertson was hit by a pitch, bringing home a run. Kaeli Hunyady, Deni Yandell and Jordan Elwood each hit singles to score four more runs, closing the gap to 7-5.
Luckily, with two outs in the bag, Snow forced the next batter to hit a pop up that was easily collected to halt the comeback.
In the second contest, DSU jumped out to an early 6-2 lead after a sensational second inning at the plate.
Nicole Chavez (Chino Hills, CA/Ayala High School) and Courtney Hine (San Dimas, CA/San Dimas High School) each hit triples to bring home runners. Chavez's hit to left field cleared the bases for a 4-2 lead.
By the time Johnna Brown (Las Vegas, NV/Centennial ) singled to left field, subsequently sending Hine home, the scoreboard boasted a four-run lead for the Red Storm.
“It was a low inside pitch, not really slow, kind of a change up or off seed pitch, so I just waited on it, swung and started running,” Chavez said of her hit. “I kept seeing coach say 'Go, go go,' and then he said, 'Down, down, down,' so I slid into third.”
The Hawks didn't offer much resistance, and even appeared frustrated at times.
In the top of the sixth, with Veronica Perry positioned on third, Hunyady hit a fly ball to center that was caught by Hine. Perry tagged up and sprinted for home plate, but Hine took one step and let loose a beautiful throw to the catcher that resulted in the final out of the inning.
DSU scored one more run in their next at bat for the 10-2 lead, which promptly ended the game early.
“We did great today, but it just gets tougher,” Simkins said. “Next week we've got Azusa, one of the better new teams in our conference. Then we play Grand Canyon. It only gets tougher, but our kids keep getting tougher.”
The Red Storm will take on Azusa Pacific at Karl Brooks Field on Friday starting at 3 p.m.
