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Utah Tech University Athletics

Duncan in OKC
Julie Buchanan Photography
1
Winner Dixie State DX-SB 50-7
0
California (Pa.) CAL 41-12
Winner
Dixie State DX-SB
50-7
1
Final
0
California (Pa.) CAL
41-12
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Dixie State DX-SB 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 6 1
California (Pa.) CAL 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1

W: Duncan, Michelle (30-0) L: Alex Sagl (27-5)

Game Recap: Softball | | John Potter, Media Relations Assistant

Duncan wins 30th in 1-0 victory over Cal U

Senior pitcher tosses two-hit shutout

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senior Michelle Duncan (Gilbert, AZ/Gilbert High School) tossed a two-hit shutout and freshman Janessa Bassett (Stansbury Park, UT/Stansbury Park) swatted a RBI triple, as Dixie State defeated California University of Pennsylvania 1-0 on Thursday at the NCAA Division II Softball Championships at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.
 
The Red Storm improves to 50-7 and advances to the winner's bracket, where they will next play on Friday at 5:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. CT on NCAA.com against Adelphi University. Victory also gave Dixie State head coach Randy Simkins his 300th career win as coach of the Storm.
 
Duncan earned the win in the circle to remain unbeaten on the season at 30-0. She struck out seven, giving up a pair of singles and one walk. She retired 14 batters in a row and 18 of the last 19 she faced.
 
"She worked ahead in the count a lot," Simkins said. "This is just vintage Michelle, just like she has been for four years – ground balls, strikeouts, work herself out of jams and you just don't hit very many balls hard off of her. I'm really pleased."
 
Dixie State thought they pushed across a run in the first inning. A one-out single by senior Nicole Chavez (Chino Hills, CA/Ayala High School) and a stolen base preceded a bloop single by senior Courtney Hine (San Dimas, CA/San Dimas High School). Senior catcher Marla Reiter (Rolinda, CA/Central High School) laid down a bunt, but Chavez was called out on a close play at the plate from the third baseman to eliminate early momentum.
 
Another rally, with two on base and no outs, in the third inning was swiftly erased by a Vulcan triple play. Chavez flied out to right field and both lead runners, sophomore Josie Hartman and Bassett, sped away on contact. After the grab in the outfield, two quick tosses to first and second base completed the first triple play in California (41-12) history.
 
The Storm finally broke through in the fifth inning, in support of Duncan. In a pinch-hitting situation, sophomore Brooklyn Beardshear (Tucson, AZ/Sahuaro) flared a single just past second base with one out.
 
"I told Brooklyn (Beardshear) the inning before, hey, be ready to hit," Simkins said.
 
With two outs, Bassett lined a triple to center field, scoring pinch runner Kristie Johnson (Temecula, CA/Chaparral High School) for the game's lone run.
 
"It was just right there," Bassett said of the offering from Vulcan pitcher Alex Sagl. "Right there. It was one of my favorite pitches to hit, and once I saw it, I was like, 'OK. Yeah. I'm going to swing at this.'"
 
Cal U put a base runner at second base in the sixth after Bassett dropped a fly ball to center field, but Duncan retired Natalya Smarra on a grounder to second base to end the inning.
 
Three groundouts in the Vulcan seventh inning preserved the Red Storm's first 1-0 victory since March 30, 2012 against Chico State at the Turlock Tournament of Champions.
 
When asked what was working against Cal U, Duncan was honest with reporters postgame.
 
"Everything was," Duncan said. "I was really hitting my spots, keeping it low, just getting ahead and forcing ground balls."
 
The Red Storm will play on Field 3 at the ASA Hall of fame Complex on Friday. With another win, Dixie State could be back on the main stadium field on Sunday and getting that opportunity would be fine with Duncan.
 
"Always as a little girl, I dreamed of being on this field," Duncan said. "I watch it all the time, the D-I World Series. It's really fun to be out there on the mound and to be with my team."
 
 
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