TUCSON, Ariz. - The Dixie State softball team opened the regular season with convincing wins over Midwestern State 9-1 (6) and Colorado State-Pueblo 11-1 on Friday at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

The Red Storm (2-0) started off hot at the plate and got solid pitching on the mound from its two aces each going the distance. Aryn Feickert (Lancaster, CA/Highland ) won game one in a six-inning affair allowing just one earned run on two hits, five walks and struck out nine batters. Michelle Duncan (Gilbert, AZ/Gilbert High School) took the hill in game two and pitched a complete game one-hitter.

"I was very pleased with how we played today," head coach Randy Simkins said. "Feickert threw a gem in the first game. She struck out seven of the first nine hitters to really set the tone."

GAME 1
Starting off the day, Dixie State struck first with an RBI single from Nicole Chavez (Chino Hills, CA/Ayala High School) in the first inning. The Red Storm tacked on three more after a two-run single from Autumn Woodfall (Kaysville, UT/Davis High School) and another on an error later in the inning. 

"Putting up four runs in the bottom of the first really gave us a lift offensively," Simkins said "It let us relax and get rid of any first game jitters."

Leading 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Chavez hit a ground-rule double, bringing in Courtney Hine (San Dimas, CA/San Dimas High School) to make it 5-0. 


Midwestern State picked up its lone run in the top of the fifth on a solo home run, the only blemish for Feickert on the mound for the day.

Two more runs came across after errors by Midwestern State in the bottom half, and Brooklyn Beardshear (Tucson, AZ/Sahuaro) knocked in Mallory Paulson (Fruita, CO/Fruita Monument) and Chavez on a single to end the game in the bottom of the sixth, winning it 9-1.

Chavez was 3 for 4 with two RBI with a stolen base, Woodfall went 2 for 3 with two RBI while Beardshear was 1 for 3 with a walk and two RBI.

GAME 2
After Dixie State picked up a run in the first, Duncan ran into a jam on the mound, walking a batter and hitting three more, evening up the score at 1-1 with CSU-Pueblo plating a run in the bottom of the second.

After giving up a hit in the third, Duncan shut down Pueblo, retiring 13 straight batters to secure the victory.

Josey Hartman (Mapleton, UT/Maple Mountain) added and RBI double and Janessa Bassett (Stansbury Park, UT/Tooele) drove in another on a single to make it 3-1 in the top of the fourth. Woodfall homered in the fifth to add another. Woodfall finished the day 2 for 4 with 4 RBI. 

Chavez brought in one more and Woodfall cleared the bases with a double to extend the lead to 8-1 in the top of the sixth. Chavez and Hartman collected three hits on the day.

DSU tacked on three more in the seventh to win 11-1.

"24 hits and 20 runs is an impressive way to start the season," Simkins said. "The games get tougher from here on out. We are excited for the challenge."

Dixie State takes on Metro State at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Leadoff Classic and will play another opponent as bracket-play begins in the afternoon.