Lancers erase early deficit to defeat DSU

Storm drop PacWest series opener at home

Box Score Tweet #DixieBase

SAINT GEORGE – Dixie State struck first. Behind a three-hit, three RBI performance by Luke Esquerra, California Baptist capitalized late to win the opening game of a Pacific West Conference series 6-3 Thursday night at Bruce Hurst Field.

The Red Storm, 27-14 overall and 19-12 in the PacWest, dropped its fifth game in the last six contests while the Lancers (29-14, 22-7) kept pace with first-place Grand Canyon in the race for the league title.

Mike Dedrick (Cedar City, UT/Canyon View) retired the first nine batters and was staked to a 3-0 lead. RBI singles by Kevin Kline (Las Vegas, NV/Rancho) and Mitch Manning (Kaysville, UT/Davis) highlighted a highly frantic offensive spark by the Red Storm in the first inning against CBU hurler David Herd.

Esquerra tallied the Lancers first hit to lead off the fourth inning. He scored two batters later on a two-run HR from Blair Moore off the scoreboard in left-center field.

It was Esquerra again in the seventh inning, on a 3-0 count, bouncing the go-ahead two-run single into center field. His third RBI came in the ninth frame with a single to right scoring Ryan Cathers.

Dedrick (7-3) allowed five runs, four earned, on five hits over eight innings in the losing effort. Herd showed composure after the DSU first inning barrage to complete his sixth game on the year. He surrendered only four more hits the rest of the way earning his seventh win. Herd capped off the evening striking out the side in the ninth inning.

Colton Yack (South Jordan, UT/Bingham) led Dixie State with three hits including a double. Manning added a double in his two-hit night.

The PacWest series continues Friday with a pair of seven-inning contests beginning at 3 p.m.

Print Friendly Version