SB Weekly Preview: PacWest Opener with the Pacific's - Azusa and Hawaii

MEDIA INFORMATION
Date	Sat., Feb. 22 \| 12:00 p.m. MT (DH) vs. APU Sun., Feb. 23 \| 12:00 p.m. MT (DH) vs. HPU
Location	Karl Brooks Field -- St. George, UT
Tickets	Purchase Tickets
DSU Live Stats	DSU Live Stats
Twitter	@DixieAthletics #DixieSB
DIXIE STATE RED STORM
Record	9-2 / 0-0 PacWest
Ranking	#22 (NFCA)
Head Coach	Randy Simkins
	Career: 208-63 (6th year)
	DSU Record: 208-63 (6th year)
AZUSA PACIFIC
Record	12-3, 3-1 PWC
Ranking	NR
Head Coach	Carrie Webber
	Record at APU: 162-107 (6th year)
HAWAII PACIFIC
Record	1-5, 1-5 PWC
Ranking	NR
Head Coach	Bryan Nakisone
	Record at HPU: 193-74 (6th year)

ST. GEORGE, Utah – The Dixie State softball team kicks off the 2014 Pacific West Conference season with a pair of doubleheaders this weekend. The Red Storm welcome Azusa Pacific for a pair of games on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 12 p.m. and Hawaii Pacific on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 12 p.m. Games will be played at Karl Brooks Field and live stats of each game will be available via DixieAtheltics.com.

NFCA Rankings
This weeks poll had the Red Storm move up one spot to No. 22 and fellow PWC member California Baptist catapulted into the ranking at No. 9 after an 11-2 start.

Dixie State (9-2, 0-0 PWC)
The Storm just completed a four game sweep of Western New Mexico last weekend and ran its win streak to six games. During the four games, the Red Storm out hit the Mustangs 51-26 and scored 44 runs, while allowing just nine. DSU raised their season average from .388 to .409 during the weekend series.

Sheila Gelter (St. George, UT/Dixie High School) was named PacWest Player of the Week for her performance. She went 9-11 (.818) with six runs, a home run, and five RBI while playing an error free weekend of softball at first base.

Currently the Red Storm have eight players hitting over .400, and five players with at least 11 RBI on the season. Leftfielder Bailee Freeland (Ogden, UT/Bonneville High School) leads the team in hitting at .484, followed closely by Nicole Chavez (Chino Hills, CA/Ayala High School) at .474.

On the pitching side of things, Michelle Duncan (Gilbert, AZ/Gilbert High School) improved to 5-1 with two victories and actually raised her ERA from 1.08 to 1.54, but the opponents are still on batting .279 against her. Aryn Feickert (Lancaster, CA/Highland ) picked up another win and lowered her ERA to 2.14, while Mattie Snow (Tooele, UT/Tooele High School) picked up other win to improve to 2-0 on the young season.

Home Field Advantage
The Storm are 119-38 (.758) in the D2 era at Karl Brooks Field, with their best season coming in 2011 when they finished 19-1. Coach Randy Simkins current record in six seasons is 208-63 (.768).

Azusa Pacific
The Cougars enter the weekend series with a 12-3 record and a 3-1 mark in the PacWest. APU won three out of four from Hawaii Pacific on Monday and Tuesday, and they have won 10 of their last 11 games. Most of the success for APU has come from Nicki Sprague who is hitting .595 on the season, followed by Madison Hernandez who is hitting .400. Jessica Melcher leads the team in home runs (4) and RBI (16). The Cougars use three pitchers to try and hold their opponents at bay. Carly Xepoleas (4-0) has a 1.54 ERA and opponents are hitting .144 against her. Carrie Webber, who is in her sixth year and a record of 162-107, coaches the Cougars.

DSU Series Record vs. Azusa Pacific
Overall Series Record: 4-0 DSU
DSU Record in St. George: 4-0
DSU Record in Azusa: 0-0
DSU Record at Neutral Sites: 0-0
DSU Record under Randy Simkins: 4-0
Longest DSU Win Streak: 4 (2013-Present)
Longest APU Win Streak: none
Largest DSU Margin of Victory: 9 (2013)
Largest APU Margin of Victory: none
Most Runs Scored by DSU: 11 (2013)
Most Runs Scored by APU: 3 (2013)

Hawaii Pacific
As of Friday, February 21, the Sea Warriors are 1-5 overall and 1-5 in PWC play. They also have a doubleheader scheduled for Friday against No. 9 California Baptist. HPU had four non-conference games rained out in early February. Toni Baysa leads the team in hitting at .455 and they are hitting .231 as a team. In the circle, Chandell Dacosin has a 4.20 ERA. The Sea Warriors are led by Bryan Nakisone who is in his 6th season and has a record of 193-74.

DSU Series Record vs. Hawaii Pacific
Overall Series Record: 13-12 HPU
DSU Record in St. George: 7-3
DSU Record in Kaneohe: 4-6
DSU Record at Neutral Sites: 1-4
DSU Record under Randy Simkins: 7-7
Longest DSU Win Streak: 6 (03/12-Present)
Longest HPU Win Streak: 3 (03/09-05/09)
Largest DSU Margin of Victory: 11 (03/12)
Largest HPU Margin of Victory: 6, twice (03/09 & 03/11)
Most Runs Scored by DSU: 17 (03/12)
Most Runs Scored by HPU: 14 (03/11)

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