Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SAINT GEORGE -- The Dixie State softball team split a doubleheader with No. 17 Grand Canyon at Karl Brooks Field.

The Red Storm (35-12, 23-7 PacWest) won the opener 7-2 but a late rally in the nitecap wasnt enough as the Antelopes (39-15, 22-8 PacWest) held on for a 7-4 victory.

Michelle Duncan (Gilbert, AZ/Gilbert High School) pitched a complete game  in the opener for the victory and improved to 17-
In both games DSU trailed to start and had to string together timely comebacks to wipe out the deficit.

The Red Storm trailed 2-0 after the first frame in Game 1 before Kylee Bufton (Spanish Fork, UT/Spanish Fork High School) hit a solo home run over the left field wall and put Dixie on the scoreboard.

In the third inning, Johnna Brown (Las Vegas, NV/Centennial )'s two-run homer gave her team the 3-2 lead.

On the mound for GCU, Stephanie Pasquiera whiffed out seven batters and allowed just four hits heading into the sixth inning.

Then the wheels came off.

The Red Storm scored four additional runs, making good on a few well-timed Antelope errors.

Winning pitcher Michelle Duncan (Gilbert, AZ/Gilbert High School) struggled early, but clamped down hard in the later innings to hold off any possible GCU miracle finishes.

In Game 2, the Antelopes cruised to a quick 5-0 lead, and then added an additional run in the sixth for the six-run advantage. Pitcher Kiki Sepulveda had just two strikeouts, but didn't allow a hit until the fifth frame.

In the bottom of the sixth, DSU's Anna Cue (Murrieta Valley, CA/Murrieta Valley High School) homered to left field to break the shutout. Autumn Woodfall (Kaysville, UT/Davis High School) and Courtney Sherwin (Mesa, AZ/Red Mountain High School) each scored unearned runs to pull within three.

Grand Canyon responded with a home run in its next at bat — courtesy of Nicole Upshaw, facing pitch reliever Mattie Snow (Tooele, UT/Tooele High School) — but otherwise left the door open for another comeback.

For a moment, it looked like Dixie State might actually seize the opportunity, especially after Hine crossed home plate to pull the Storm within three.

Instead, GCU made all the right moves and quickly put an end to the game to tie the series 1-1.

Dixie State will continue its series against Grand Canyon today at noon at Karl Brooks Field in another doubleheader tilt.