Storm Sweep Final Day of Desert Stinger

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 LAS VEGAS – A plethora of hits by the No. 23 ranked Dixie State University softball team led to them to a pair of wins on the final day of the Desert Stinger Softball Tournament in Las Vegas. In the opener the Red Storm run-ruled CSU San Bernardino 8-0 in six innings and scored seven runs in the top of the seventh to dispose of New Mexico Highlands 15-9.

Dixie State (5-2) pounded out 27 hits in the pair of games and added 23 runs to finish the tournament 4-1.

In today's opener, Courtney Hine (San Dimas, CA/San Dimas High School), Marla Reiter (Rolinda, CA/Central High School) and Brooklyn Beardshear (Tucson, AZ/Sahuaro) each had two RBI to dispose of the Coyotes (4-2) in six innings. Freshman shortstop Josey Hartman (Mapleton, UT/Maple Mountain) added an RBI double as well.

In the circle, ace Michelle Duncan (Gilbert, AZ/Gilbert High School) pitched a complete game shutout, allowing three hits and striking out four to improve to 3-1 on the season.

In the final game of the tournament, the Red Storm needed every out, hit and run to put away New Mexico Highlands.

Dixie State started right where they left off in the opener, scoring four runs and four hits in the top of the first inning and adding two more runs in the top of the third on a Sheila Gelter (St. George, UT/Dixie High School) two run home run. DSU appeared to be cruising and Red Storm starting pitcher Beardshear had the Cowgirls held at bay.

But after a lead off single and a fly out, the next batter hit a chopper to Beardshear on what appeared to be a "taylor made" double play, but her throw was a little high and Chavez was unable to make the turn. The Cowgirls followed with six straight hits and scoring four runs off Beardshear.

Head coach Randy Simkins turned to veteran Mattie Snow (Tooele, UT/Tooele High School) to try and close the door, but her 3-1 pitch was deposited over the left field fence to give NMHU a 7-6 advantage after three innings. Highlands scored all its runs in the inning with two outs.

DSU responded with an RBI sacrifice fly from Courtney Sherwin (Mesa, AZ/Red Mountain High School) in the fourth and a Chavez RBI double that gave DSU the 8-7 lead. But, the Cowgirls responded in the bottom half of the fifth inning with two more runs to take a 9-8 lead.

The Storm entered their final at bat with trailing by a run and Autumn Woodfall (Kaysville, UT/Davis High School) led the inning off being hit by a pitch and setting up a perfect sacrifice opportunity. Bailee Freeland (Ogden, UT/Bonneville High School) laid down the bunt and the ensuing throw would have retired Freeland, but it glanced off the first baseman's glove and down the right field line. Pinch runner Rochelle Jenkins (Mira Loma, CA/Roosevelt High School) scampered around second and headed toward third and Simkins rolled the dice and sent her home where she scored the tying run just ahead of the throw. Freeland reached third base on the play.

The Red Storm followed with six runs on six hits to give pitcher Aryn Feickert (Lancaster, CA/Highland ) enough support to pick up her first win of the season. Feickert pitched two and two thirds innings in relief, allowing just one hit and striking out five to improve to 1-1.

Chavez led the Red Storm with four hits, Sherwin, Hine, and Reiter each added three.

Dixie State returns home for a four game series with Western New Mexico on Friday at 3 pm at Karl Brooks Field.

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