Abrath, Conquy become five-game winners in DH sweep of UH Hilo

Offense supports quality pitching efforts for DSU

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ST. GEORGE, Utah – The nationally ranked Dixie State University baseball team extended its longest winning streak since the 2010 season to 11 games opening a Pacific West Conference series with the visiting Vulcans of Hawaii Hilo with a Saturday sweep, 12-1 and 8-4.

With the victories, Dixie State improves to 22-11, 16-2 in PacWest play and 3.5 games clear of Azusa Pacific for the top spot in the league standing. Hawaii Hilo dropped their seventh straight to fall to 10-19, 8-14 PacWest.

In the first game, the Red Storm used a seven-run third inning to get the offense going. Drew McLaughlin (Scottsdale, AZ) singled twice in the frame, his second hit brought home a pair of runs. Kevin Kline (Las Vegas, NV) also added a two-run single. McLaughlin went 4-for-5 in the opener with three RBI while Kline later added his fourth home run of the year, a two-run-shot, in the eighth inning.

Dixie State pounded out 18 hits compared to Hilo's six in the opener.

Chance Abrath (Salt Lake City, UT) was in cruise control leading to his fourth straight winning decision (5-1). He threw six shutout innings and allowed just four hits. Rustin Sveum (Scottsdale, AZ) closed with three innings of one-run relief to earn his first save of the year.

In the nightcap, the Red Storm took a 2-0 lead in the second after an RBI infield single by Ty Johnson (Thousand Oaks, CA) and a run-scoring sacrifice bunt by Dalton Gust (Riverton, UT).

UH Hilo tied the game with a pair of runs off John Conquy (Las Vegas, NV) in the third, but Dixie State quickly regained the lead. Trey Kamachi (Kapolei, HI) hustled to second base after his ground ball was misplayed by the second baseman. Additionally, a throwing error from center field ended up in the Hilo third base dugout, allowing Kamachi to advance home with the go-ahead run. Two batters later, Tyler Blair (Henderson, NV) connected on a 3-1 pitch to deep right field for his third homer on the season.

In the fourth, Austin Bartleson (Kennewick, WA) led off with a double and scored on a base hit from Gust for a 5-2 lead.

Bartleson followed in the fifth inning with the highlight hit, a two-run double that highlighted a three-run spurt.

A six-run cushion was more than enough for Conquy on the mound. The junior improved to 5-1 with seven quality innings pitched – two runs, seven hits and three strikeouts.

Blair led the 11-hit attack in game two with three hits while Bartleson and Yuto Kata (Chiba, Japan) each had two hits.

The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m. with another doubleheader. Kort Christoffersen (Ogden, UT/Weber) is expected to start the nine-inning opener and his brother, Kody Christoffersen (Ogden, UT/Weber), will get the nod in the series finale slated for seven innings.

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