Stan Plewe/Utah Tech Athletics

Softball 2/8/2017 9:26:00 PM By DSU Athletics Media Relations

Trailblazer Softball hosts Easton Classic

DSU set for games against CSU-Pueblo, St. Edward's, UC Colorado Springs, Concordia-Portland, and Western New Mexico

Dixie State Easton Classic
February 9-11, 2017
Canyons Softball Complex - St. George, Utah

Dixie State Game Times (Mountain):
Thursday vs. CSU-Pueblo - 3 p.m. (Canyons Field #4)
Friday vs. St. Edward's - 3 p.m. (Canyons Field #4)
Friday vs. UC Colorado Springs - 5:30 p.m. (Canyons Field #4)
Saturday vs. Concordia-Portland 12:30 p.m. (Canyons Field #4)
Saturday vs. Western New Mexico - 3 p.m. (Canyons Field #4)

Click HERE for the tournament central page.

Live Stats: Dixie State Live Stats
Twitter: @DixieAthletics | #DixieBlazers

The Dixie State softball team is set to host the DSU Softball Easton Classic this weekend at the Canyons Softball Complex in St. George. The tournament, which will feature 15 NCAA Division II teams from six different conferences, will begin on Thursday and run through Saturday.

The Trailblazers (4-0) will play Colorado State-Pueblo on Thursday at 3 p.m., followed by matchups with St. Edward's (3 p.m.) and UC Colorado Springs on Friday (5:30 p.m.). DSU will close the week with games vs. Concordia-Portland (12:30 p.m.) and Western New Mexico (3 p.m.) on Saturday.

ALL-TIME VS. CSU-PUEBLO: Thursday's game marks the fourth matchup between Dixie State and CSU-Pueblo. The teams first met on Feb. 7, 2014, at the Las Vegas Desert Stinger tournament. DSU won the inaugural matchup, 8-0, and defeated the Thunderwolves, 11-1, the following year at the NFCA Leadoff Classic and last season earned a 9-1 win at Karl Brooks Field. DSU leads the all-time series 3-0.

ALL-TIME VS. ST. EDWARD'S: Friday's game marks the first meeting between Dixie State and St. Edward's.

ALL-TIME VS. UC COLORADO SPRINGS: Friday's game marks the fourth meeting between Dixie State and UC Colorado Springs. DSU won the inaugural matchup, 20-6, on Feb. 12, 2010, at the Las Vegas Stinger tournament. The Trailblazers and Mountain Lions met up two more times at the Las Vegas Stinger (2013, 2014), with DSU winning both games. Dixie State leads the all-time series 3-0.

ALL-TIME VS. CONCORDIA-PORTLAND: Saturday's game marks the first meeting between Dixie State and Concordia-Portland.

ALL-TIME VS. WESTERN NEW MEXICO: Saturday's game marks the seventh meeting between Dixie State and Western New Mexico. DSU won the first matchup, 5-3, on Feb. 13, 2009, in Phoenix, Arizona, sparking a five-game win streak in the series for Dixie State. The Mustangs earned their first victory in the series last season, 6-5, at Karl Brooks Field. The Trailblazers lead the all-time series 5-1.

LAST TIME OUT: Dixie State pounded out three home runs, including two grand slams, en route to a doubleheader sweep (8-2, 13-5) over Montana State Billings at Karl Brooks Field on Monday.

BASSETT NAMED TO PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH: For the second consecutive year, junior outfielder Janessa Bassett (Stansbury Park, Utah/Stansbury HS) has been named to the 2017 NFCA/Schutt Sports Division II Player of the Year Watch List. The Top 25 finalists will be announced on April 27, while the Top 10 will be announced on May 11. The three finalists will be announced on May 18, with the 2017 Player of the Year revealed on May 24 at the NCAA Division II Softball Championship Banquet in Salem, Virginia.

DSU PICKED SECOND IN PACWEST PRESEASON POLL: The Trailblazers were picked to finish in second place in this year's PacWest Preseason Poll, receiving three first-place votes, but finishing behind California Baptist in the poll. Junior outfielder Janessa Bassett (Stansbury Park, Utah/Stansbury HS) was named to the Preseason All-PacWest team, after landing on the PacWest First Team last season. Bassett also garnered Fast Pitch News Preseason All-America honorable mention honors, after being name to both the NFCA and D2CCA All-America second teams last season.

THE SIMKINS FILE: Randy Simkins enters his ninth year as the Dixie State head softball coach in 2017, after a stint as head coach at DSU while competing in the junior college ranks. He led Dixie State to a program-best 49-6 record in 2004 while the school competed as an NJCAA program. In 2015, the Trailblazers recorded the most wins as a Division II program with 52 victories. Simkins has accumulated 338 victories to just 94 losses for a winning percentage of .782 in eight seasons as head coach. Simkins has led DSU to four PacWest championships, two West Region championships, two trips to the College World Series, and a national runner-up finish.

2017 ROSTER: Dixie State returns 12 starters from the 2016 squad, led by junior outfielder Janessa Bassett (Stansbury Park, Utah/Stansbury HS). A first team All-PacWest selection and second team All-American, Bassett was DSU's leading hitter in 2016, batting .474 with 82 hits, 28 RBI, 29 stolen bases, and 17 doubles. She ended the regular season as the PacWest leader in batting average, on-base percentage, and hits, ranking in the Top-10 nationally in batting average and the Top-15 in hits.

The Trailblazers return five other All-PacWest selections from last season, including Jessica Gonzalez (Kingsburg, Calif./Kingsburg HS), who earned PacWest Freshman of the Year in 2016. Gonzalez hit .393 with 44 hits, 37 RBI, and six home runs. Senior outfielder Shelby Yung (Upland, Calif./Upland HS) (.365, 57 hits, 32 RBI), senior infielder Mallory Paulson (Fruita, Colo./Fruita Monument HS) (.345, 48 hits, 34 RBI), and senior catcher Arista Honey (Bothell, Wash./Bothell HS) (.343, 23 hits, 18 RBI) also return in 2017.

Senior Brooklyn Beardshear (Tucson, Ariz./Sahuaro HS), who earned second team All-PacWest honors at third base last season, returns as DSU's top pitcher. Beardshear recorded a 12-4 record with 38 strikeouts and a 2.30 ERA in 2016.

Junior Kenzie Sawyer (Cedar City, Utah/Canyon View) joins the team as the only junior college transfer addition in 2017. Sawyer hit .456 with 167 RBI and 48 doubles in two seasons at Western Nebraska Community College. She holds the WNCC career home run record with 49.

Six freshman look to compete for playing time as Destiny Diaz (Camarillo, Calif./Oaks Christian HS), Kori Gahn (Phoenix, Ariz./Pinnacle HS), Brenna Hinck (Tremonton, Utah/Bear River HS), Kaycie Jensen (Springville, Utah/Springville HS), Kirsten Quigley (Othello, Wash./Othello HS), and Riley Tyteca (Farmington, Utah/Viewmont HS) join the team for the new season.

UP NEXT: Dixie State will host Colorado Mesa in a Monday afternoon doubleheader at Karl Brooks Field, before heading to the Cactus Classic in Tucson, Arizona.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Brooklyn Beardshear: P/3B; 5' 9"; Senior; R/R

#8 Arista Honey: C/3B; 5' 6"; Senior; R/R

#24 Mallory Paulson: 1B/3B; 5' 8"; Senior; R/R

#23 Shelby Yung: OF; 5' 1"; Senior; R/R

#1 Janessa Bassett: OF; 5' 3"; Junior; L/R

#12 Jessica Gonzalez: C/1B; 5' 8"; Sophomore; R/R

#3 Destiny Diaz: C/3B/OF; 5' 3"; Freshman; R/R

#17 Kori Gahn: 1B/3B; 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R

#22 Brenna Cornwall: OF; 5' 7"; Freshman; L/R

#20 Kaycie Jensen: P/1B; 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R

#7 Kirsten Quigley: SS/3B; 5' 10"; Freshman; R/R

#44 Riley Tyteca: 1B/C/3B; 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#11 Brooklyn Beardshear
: 5' 9"; Senior; R/R
: P/3B

#8 Arista Honey
: 5' 6"; Senior; R/R
: C/3B

#24 Mallory Paulson
: 5' 8"; Senior; R/R
: 1B/3B

#23 Shelby Yung
: 5' 1"; Senior; R/R
: OF

#1 Janessa Bassett
: 5' 3"; Junior; L/R
: OF

#12 Jessica Gonzalez
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; R/R
: C/1B

#3 Destiny Diaz
: 5' 3"; Freshman; R/R
: C/3B/OF

#17 Kori Gahn
: 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R
: 1B/3B

#22 Brenna Cornwall
: 5' 7"; Freshman; L/R
: OF

#20 Kaycie Jensen
: 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R
: P/1B

#7 Kirsten Quigley
: 5' 10"; Freshman; R/R
: SS/3B

#44 Riley Tyteca
: 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R
: 1B/C/3B