Softball 3/22/2014 7:17:00 PM Jeff Cluff, Coordinator of Media Relations

Storm Swing way to Two Wins over Hawaii Hilo

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Tweet #DixieSB

ST. GEORGE, Utah -- Saturday was just what the doctor ordered for the Dixie State University softball team as they defeated University of Hawaii Hilo 8-7 and 8-0 in six innings in the opener.

Aryn Feickert (Lancaster, CA/Highland ) was stellar in the opener by striking out a career and season high 12 Hawaii Hilo (15-11/10-7 PWC) batters and allowing just three hits to improve to 12-6 on the season.

She pitched well enough that Red Storm (25-8/13-5 PWC) skipper Randy Simkins started her in game two. Even though she wasn't as sharp, she only allowed two runs on six hits, while striking out three more UHH batters in three and one third innings.

The Red Storm offense amassed 26 hits in the two games and scored above their average of 6.7 per game. They also maintained their team batting average of .361 that has them ranked eighth in the NCAA.

DSU plated two runs in the top of the first inning when Nicole Chavez (Chino Hills, CA/Ayala High School) led off the inning with a single to center, Courtney Hine (San Dimas, CA/San Dimas High School) reached on a fielders choice and Sheila Gelter loaded the bases with a bunt single to the pitcher. An RBI groundout for (St. George, UT/Dixie High School)Marla Reiter# gave DSU a 1-0 lead, followed by an RBI sacrifice fly to left center for Bailee Freeland (Ogden, UT/Bonneville High School) that extended the lead to 2-0.

A Reiter and Freeland single with two outs in the third inning brought up designated player Autumn Woodfall (Kaysville, UT/Davis High School), who belted the first pitch into the left center field gap for a 2RBI double to give the Storm a 4-0 lead.

Chavez added her second hit of the game with a triple to right center field to lead off the fourth frame. Gelter laid down a perfect RBI sacrifice bunt to plate Chavez from third.

In the fifth inning, Woodfall added her third RBI of the game with her first home run of the year with a solo shot to left field.

The Red Storm added the winner in the bottom half of the sixth on a Courtney Sherwin (Mesa, AZ/Red Mountain High School) RBI single down the left field line and a Reiter RBI single to center ended the game.

Chavez, Hine, Reiter and Woodfall each had two hits.

GAME TWO

DSU jumped to a 5-0 lead when Chavez hit her team leading fifth home of the season. Hine extended her hitting streak to sixteen games with a double to center field. Freeland added a 2RBI single through the right side, Woodfall added an RBI single and Hartman chipped in an RBI sacrifice bunt.
With the game on cruise control, a pair of singles by the Vulcans in the fourth inning changed the momentum. Simkins turned to ace of the staff Michelle Duncan (Gilbert, AZ/Gilbert High School), who is making her first appearance since Feb. 25 due to an injury, but she allowed four hits and three runs in the innings as UHH tied the game at 5-5.

The Red Storm responded in the bottom of the sixth as Chavez led the inning off with her second triple of the day, followed by an RBI single by Hine to give DSU a 6-5 lead. The second run would score on a miscue by the Vulcans making 7-5.

But don't count the pesky Vulcans out as they struck for two more runs off Duncan, both unearned. Duncan struck out Ashley Lara with the bases loaded ending their threat, but the game tied 7-7.

Josey Hartman (Mapleton, UT/Maple Mountain) singled to the shortstop to lead off the home side of the seventh inning, her only hit of the day. The next batter Brooke Budge (Springville, UT/Springville High School) laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt that was fielded by the third baseman and the Vulcan defense failed to cover third base as the Hartman scampered to third on the play.

After a brief visit to the circle, the Vulcans decided to try and intentionally walk Chavez who had three hits. But, the second pitch to Chavez was dropped by the catcher and Hartman raced home to give DSU the 8-7 victory.

Duncan earned the win in relief to move to 6-1 on the year. Chavez, Hine and Freeland each had three hits.

In the loss, Emily Greene had three hits and two RBI for Hawaii Hilo.

The Red Storm and the Vulcans continue their four-game series with a pair of game tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for Noon from Karl Brooks Field.

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