Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 GRAND JUNCTION, CO -- Behind a pair of solid pitching performances and timely hitting, the Dixie State University softball swept a pair of non-conference games over Colorado Mesa University 3-1 and 6-2 at Bergman Field and extended their winning streak to 12 games.
Dixie State (35-8) leaned on their one-two punch of
Aryn Feickert (Lancaster, CA/Highland ) and
Michelle Duncan (Gilbert, AZ/Gilbert High School) in the circle to quell the Maverick (17-17) hitters.
Feickert started the opener and allowed just one run, six hits and struck out nine batters to improve to her team leading 17-6 record. She lowered her ERA to 1.83 and her opponents batting average to .234.
DSU added a run in the first inning after
Nicole Chavez (Chino Hills, CA/Ayala High School) led the game off with an infield single to the shortstop and
Courtney Sherwin (Mesa, AZ/Red Mountain High School) followed with a single up the middle.
Mallory Paulson (Fruita, CO/Fruita Monument), playing for
Sheila Gelter (St. George, UT/Dixie High School) who had to stay at home due to academic testing in her cohort, then singled home the speedy Chavez on a hit to left field.
In the second inning, the Red Storm loaded the bases after three consecutive singles, but CMU pitcher Jessica Seve induced a strikeout and fielders choice ground out. DSU scored when
Courtney Sherwin (Mesa, AZ/Red Mountain High School) reached on an error by the Maverick first baseman and
Bailee Freeland (Ogden, UT/Bonneville High School) scored the second DSU run.
In the fifth inning the Red Storm pushed home another run, all with two outs.
Kristie Johnson (Temecula, CA/Chaparral High School) singled to center,
Autumn Woodfall (Kaysville, UT/Davis High School) followed with a single to center and pushed Johnson to third base. During the next at bat, Johnson stole home and Woodfall stole second to give DSU a 3-0 lead.
CMU led off the bottom half of the sixth inning with a Makayla Kovac single and reached second when Sherwin bobbled the exchange in right field. Jessica Sererinsen singled up the middle to cut the lead to 3-1. The next batter Sarah Phillis doubled and put runners on second and third and no one out.
After a quick visit from head coach
Randy Simkins, Feickert struck out Megan Brown and then walked a pinch hitter to load the bases. Digging deep she then struck out Brooke Ortale swinging and Mariaha O'dell looking to end the Maverick threat.
The Red Storm pounded out 13 hits in the game, including two each from Woodfall, Freeland,
Josey Hartman (Mapleton, UT/Maple Mountain), and
Brooke Budge (Springville, UT/Springville High School).
In the second game, CMU scored first in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead.
DSU manufactured three runs in the fifth inning to take a 3-1 lead. Hartman led the inning off by getting hit by a pitch. She then stole second and and Budge reached on an infield single to the shortstop. An RBI single from Sherwin scored the equalizer and then Paulson hit a RBI sacrifice fly foul down the left field line.
Marla Reiter (Rolinda, CA/Central High School) added the third run with an RBI single through the right side.
The Mavericks responded with run in the bottom half of the fifth on a Sererinsen RBI single to right center that scored Rachel Boothe from first base.
DSU added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. Budge singled to right center, followed by a Sherwin single to right field. Paulson followed with a single throught the left side for her second RBI of the game. Reiter and Woodfall each plated runs on RBI sacrifice flies to extend the lead to 6-2.
The Red Storm collected 11 hits, of which Budge, Sherwin and Reiter each had two.
Duncan threw her fifth complete game of the season and improved to 10-1 by allowing two runs on eight hits, while striking out one batter. She needed only 84 pitches and lowered her ERA to a team a PWC leading 1.58.
The Red Storm return home to play their final home games of the season on April 14 and 15 against BYU-Hawaii at 3 p.m each day at Karl Brooks Field.
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