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Utah Tech University Athletics

Siera Phillips Swing
Julie Buchanan Photography

Softball John Potter, Media Relations Assistant

Coffey complete game keeps Dixie State season alive

Storm tangle with Toros on Championship Sunday

Box Score

SAINT GEORGE, Utah – Senior pitcher Kate Coffey (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) tossed her seventh complete game of the season to keep the season alive for Dixie State. Siera Phillips (Mesa, AZ/Red Mountain High School) had an RBI single and an errant throw sparked a two-run fifth giving the host Red Storm a 3-1 victory over Sonoma State in an elimination game Saturday afternoon at Karl Brooks Field.
 
Dixie State advances to Championship Sunday beginning at noon to face Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Storm will need to win two games while the Toros, through to Sunday in the winner's breacket, will only have to win once for a spot in the Super Regional. CSUDH defeated the Red Storm, 9-3 in Saturday's opening game.
 
Coffey allowed eight hits and struck out three while allowing a single run. She was able to strand nine SSU runners by inducing inning-ending groundballs and flyouts.
 
“When I have runners on, I don't let that phase me,” Coffey said. “I acknowledge the runners, but I stay with my mindset – get ahead, stay ahead and let me defense work behind me.”
 
Dixie State gave Coffey a 3-0 lead with Phillips' RBI single in the fourth, scoring Courtney Hine (San Dimas, CA/San Dimas High School), and two runs in the fifth off Samantha Lipperd. DSU had the bases loaded with a Marla Reiter (Rolinda, CA/Central High School) double, a fielder's choice by Kristie Johnson (Temecula, CA/Chaparral High School) and a Nicole Chavez (Chino Hills, CA/Ayala High School) bunt single. During a pinch-hit at-bat by Sheila Gelter (St. George, UT/Dixie High School), SSU attempted to pick off Chavez at first. The throw tracked off line, allowing Reiter to score. Gelter added a sacrifice fly later in the plate appearance.
 
Sonoma State put the tying run on base twice in the final inning. Coffey induced a ground ball comebacker for the second out before getting the Seawolves' leading home run hitter, Ali Palermo, on a groundout to third to end the game.
 
Lipperd took the loss – scattering three runs on five hits. The talented pitcher ended with a 23-12 record on the year.
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