Box Score ST. GEORGE, Utah – With the score tied at 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth pinch-hitter
Autumn Woodfall (Kaysville, UT/Davis High School) deposited a 3-1 pitch over the left field fence to lead the No. 2 seed Dixie State University to an 8-6 win over the No. 7 seed Central Washington in the opening round of the NCAA D2 Softball West Region Tournament at Karl Brooks Field.
The No. 15 ranked Red Storm (45-8) extended their winning streak to 22-games, but needed to come from behind twice to be successful.
The Wildcats (19-9) struck first with a run in the first inning off Storm pitcher
Aryn Feickert (Lancaster, CA/Highland ).
Courtney Sherwin (Mesa, AZ/Red Mountain High School) responded in the bottom half of the frame with a two-run homer to left field to give DSU a 2-1 lead.
CWU battled back in the second by adding a run on a Maikala Galusha RBI single to centerfield.
After an empty second frame for DSU, the Wildcats chased Feickert from the game in the third inning when Andrea Hamada hit an two RBI double to left center and they added another run on an infield groundout to extend their lead to 5-2.
But the pesky Red Storm team would not go away and turned to their veterans to lead them back into the contest.
Bailee Freeland (Ogden, UT/Bonneville High School) slapped her first base hit of the day down the left field line to lead off the fourth inning.
Nicole Chavez (Chino Hills, CA/Ayala High School) followed with a single down the third base line and
Courtney Hine (San Dimas, CA/San Dimas High School) walk loaded the bases with no outs. A laser lineout for Sherwin followed, but
Mallory Paulson (Fruita, CO/Fruita Monument) singled in two runs to right field off the diving glove of the first baseman to cut the Wildcat lead to 5-4.
Sheila Gelter (St. George, UT/Dixie High School) pushed home the next two runs with a line-drive single to right field and Paulson, trying to score from second, just beat the throw home to give DSU a 6-5 lead.
Michelle Duncan (Gilbert, AZ/Gilbert High School) (16-1, 1.42 ERA) pitched near perfection in relief of Feickert, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out two batters.
The Wildcats plated the go ahead in sixth inning after a DSU error when Kailyn Campbell picked up her third hit of the day, this time an RBI double to left field.
Trailing 6-5 and their backs against the wall, Gelter led the sixth off with a single to left field and the equalizer was moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt from
Brooke Budge (Springville, UT/Springville High School). Woodfall pinch hit for Hartman and hit her fourth home run of the season over the left field fence.
The Wildcats didn't go away easy as they had two runners on in the top of the seventh. But, the cool and calm Duncan forced a strikeout looking, a foul out and a line out. CWU stranded 11 runners on base during the game.
DSU collected 11 hits in victory with Chavez, Sherwin, Gelter and Freeland each colleting two. The Wildcats had 14 with Campbell leading the way.
The Red Storm advance to the winners bracket game at 11 a.m. tomorrow against the No. 6 seed UC San Diego, who upset Humboldt State 10-6 in eight innings.
GAME 1 – UC SAN DIEGO 10 HUMBOLDT STATE 6 (8-inn): Sixth-seeded U.C. San Diego broke an 11-game losing streak to Humboldt State at the most opportune time. The Tritons scored four runs in the top of the eighth innings to knock off second-seeded Jacks, 10-6, in the NCAA West 2 Regional opening game.
Mya Romero lined the go-ahead single off HSU reliever Madison Williams to give the Tritons the lead. Three batters later, Alissa Gutierrez cleared the bases with a double and capped the four-run frame.
Alexis Edwards tossed the complete game win for UCSD, but not without some drama. Up by four, 6-2, entering the home half of the seventh, Humboldt State tied the game with five hits. With the potential game winner at second, Edwards induced a ground out to end the rally.
The teams combined for 32 hits, the Tritons bested the battle 17-15. Caitlin Brown, Mya Romero and Kirsten Willmon each had three hits for UCSD. Julie Pena and Dani Randall knocked three hits each for Humboldt State.
