Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ST. GEORGE, Utah -- The Dixie State Univeristy softball team used a 14-run inning to propel themselves to a opening game win and eventually a 18-7 and 7-1 doubleheader sweep of Western New Mexico on Saturday afternoon at Karl Brooks Field.

With the win the Red Strom improve to 9-2 on the season as they begin Pacific West Conference play this next weekend.

Courtney Sherwin (Mesa, AZ/Red Mountain High School) started Dixie State off in Game 1 with a three-run home run to left. Then, in the third, the Storm erupted with a 14-run inning: Marla Reiter (Rolinda, CA/Central High School) led off with a big fly, then Sheila Gelter (St. George, UT/Dixie High School) and Bailee Freeland (Ogden, UT/Bonneville High School) notched back-to-back RBI singles. Brooke Budge (Springville, UT/Springville High School), Nicole Chavez (Chino Hills, CA/Ayala High School) and Reiter all knocked in runs on multiple at-bats in the frame. Reiter would have batted for a third time in the inning, but Autumn Woodfall (Kaysville, UT/Davis High School) entered the game as a pinch hitter.

Western New Mexico put up five runs, none earned, the following inning against Mattie Snow (Tooele, UT/Tooele High School), who came in to relieve starter Michelle Duncan (Gilbert, AZ/Gilbert High School), but the Dixie State lead was too much, and Game 1 ended in the fifth.

In Game 2, the Storm went right back to work.

Chavez doubled, then Courtney Hine (San Dimas, CA/San Dimas High School) did the same to put the first DSU run of the game on the board.

In the second, Gelter took Mustangs pitcher Chyler Imai, in her first appearance in the circle, over the left field fence. Dixie State nickel-and-dimed Western New Mexico the rest of the way, totaling 11 hits.

At the close of the sweep, Gelter finished 9 of 11, with three doubles, a home run and five RBI.

Duncan picked up the win in Game 1, her fifth of the season, after three easy innings. In Game 2, Aryn Feickert (Lancaster, CA/Highland ) pitched a complete game, seven innings, and gave up six hits, one unearned run and struck out six, grabbing her second of the season and improving to 2-1.

The Red Storm begin Pac West play Saturday as they host Azusa Pacific at noon.