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Utah Tech University Athletics

SB - Sawyer vs. APU
Stan Plewe/Utah Tech Athletics
6
Winner Azusa Pacific APU-SB 20-8
3
Dixie State DX-SB 27-8
Winner
Azusa Pacific APU-SB
20-8
6
Final
3
Dixie State DX-SB
27-8
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Azusa Pacific APU-SB 2 0 3 1 0 0 0 6 14 1
Dixie State DX-SB 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 3 6 1

W: Mejia, Megan (7-1) L: Beardshear, Brooklyn (12-3)

8
Azusa Pacific APU-SB 20-9
12
Winner Dixie State DX-SB 28-8
Azusa Pacific APU-SB
20-9
8
Final
12
Dixie State DX-SB
28-8
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Azusa Pacific APU-SB 0 0 2 3 0 3 0 8 10 3
Dixie State DX-SB 0 0 5 3 0 4 X 12 10 5

W: Melendez, Alexandria (8-4) L: von Zboray, Ariana (4-3)

Game Recap: Softball | | By DSU Athletics Media Relations

No. 20 Softball splits Friday DH with Azusa Pacific

The No. 20 Dixie State softball team opened its four-game series vs. Azusa Pacific with a Friday afternoon Pacific West Conference doubleheader split, 6-3 and 12-8, at Karl Brooks Field.

The Trailblazers (28-8, 13-5 PacWest) couldn't overcome a 6-1 deficit in game one and eventually fell, 6-3. DSU trailed early in game two, but rallied for a 12-8 win to clinch the doubleheader split, as the teams combined for 29 runs and 40 hits on the day.

GAME ONE – Azusa Pacific 6, Dixie State 3

Azusa Pacific set the tone in the first inning, moving a runner into scoring position with a series of infield singles. Nicki Sprague, PacWest Preseason Player of the Year, then gave the Cougars a 2-0 lead with a two-run home run over the center field fence.

Dixie State closed the gap to 2-1 in the bottom of the second when Brenna Hinck (Tremonton, Utah/Bear River HS) drove a sacrifice fly to left field to score Kenzie Sawyer (Cedar City, Utah/Canyon View) from third. Josey Hartman (Mapleton, Utah/Maple Mountain HS) looked to score Dani Bartholf (Gilbert, Ariz./Gilbert HS) from second in the ensuing at-bat, but her deep fly ball was chased down by APU right fielder Emily Moran to end the inning.

The Cougars answered DSU's run with three of their own in the top of the third, turning four hits and a Dixie State error into a 5-1 lead. APU added to the lead in the fourth inning, scoring on a Sprague RBI-single, her fourth RBI of the game, to right center field to push the advantage to 6-1.

The Trailblazers countered in the bottom half of the fourth, cutting the lead to 6-3 on a Hartman 2 RBI-double to left center. But DSU wouldn't get any closer, going down in order in the sixth before stranding a runner at second in the seventh.

Mallory Paulson (Fruita, Colo./Fruita Monument HS) led DSU at the plate with two hits, while Hartman's 2 RBI-double gave the senior shortstop a team-best mark in RBI for the game. Brooklyn Beardshear (Tucson, Ariz./Sahuaro HS) (12-3) took the complete-game loss in the pitcher's circle, allowing six runs (five earned) with two strikeouts.

GAME TWO – Dixie State 12, Azusa Pacific 8

Like game one, Azusa Pacific opened the scoring in game two, rallying for two runs with two outs to take a 2-0 lead in the top of third. But this time, Dixie State responded.

The Trailblazers loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half of the third. Sawyer then drove an RBI-single to left field to cut the APU lead in half. With the bases still loaded, Bartholf found the gap in left center field for a 3 RBI-double. Shelby Yung (Upland, Calif./Upland HS) brought the final run across the plate with an RBI-groundout to push the lead to 5-2.

The third inning provided a template for the remainder of the contest, as the teams continued to trade punches through the final four innings.

The Cougars tied the game in the top of fourth, turning three hits and a DSU error into a three-run frame.

Dixie State matched the Cougars, scoring three runs on a Jessica Gonzalez (Kingsburg, Calif./Kingsburg HS) 2 RBI-double, and a sacrifice fly by Sawyer to retake the lead the at 8-5.

Azusa Pacific looked to cut into the lead in the fifth inning, putting runners in scoring position with two outs. Moran then singled to right field, but Erinn Jaramillo was thrown out at the plate as Hinck threw to Paulson at first, and Paulson fired to Gonzalez at home to make the tag to end the inning.

The Cougars tied the game for a second time in the sixth inning, turning three hits and another DSU error in an 8-8 tie.

But like the rest of the game, the Trailblazers answered in the bottom half of the sixth. Gaffin reached on a fielding error to open the inning, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Paulson. Gaffin later moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored when Sawyer drove an RBI-single to right field. Yung added to the lead with an RBI-single to center field, moving Bartholf to third. Bartholf then scored on a wild pitch. Arista Honey (Bothell, Wash./Bothell HS) closed the scoring for DSU with an RBI-single up the middle to push the lead to the final count of 12-8.

Sawyer led the charge offensively in game two, going 2-for-3 with 3 RBI, while Gonzalez went 3-for-3 with 2 RBI. Alexandria Melendez (Moreno Valley, Calif./Valley View HS) (8-4) earned the win in the pitcher's circle after entering the game in the fifth inning.

Dixie State and Azusa Pacific will close the four-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday at 12 p.m., at Karl Brooks Field.
 
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