Stan Plewe/Utah Tech Athletics

Softball 4/19/2017 3:43:00 PM By DSU Athletics Media Relations

Softball set for 4-game series at No. 13 California Baptist

Dixie State Trailblazers (34-11, 19-7 PacWest) at
No. 13 California Baptist (35-8, 25-3 PacWest)

Game Times (Mountain):
Friday - 6 p.m., 8 p.m.
Saturday - 1 p.m., 3 p.m.

Live Stats/Video: California Baptist
Twitter: @DixieAthletics | #DixieBlazers #PacWestSB

The Dixie State softball team returns to southern California this week for a four-game Pacific West Conference series vs. No. 13 California Baptist at John C. Funk Stadium in Riverside, California.

The Trailblazers (34-11, 19-7 PacWest) and Lancers will open the series with a doubleheader on Friday at 5 p.m. Pacific Time (6 p.m. MT), followed by a second doubleheader on Saturday at Noon PT (1 p.m. MT).

ALL-TIME VS. CALIFORNIA BAPTIST: Friday's series-opening game marks the 31st meeting between Dixie State and California Baptist. The teams first met on Feb. 2, 2007, at the Red Rock Invitational in St. George. The Lancers won the inaugural matchup, 3-2. DSU earned its first win in the series the following day with a 9-6 victory, but the Lancers responded, winning 12 of the next 17 games in the series. Dixie State countered by winning six of the next seven matchups, before the Lancers took three out of four games at Karl Brooks Field last year. CBU holds a 17-13 lead in the all-time series, while the teams have played to a 5-5 split in Riverside.

KNOW YOUR FOE: The Lancers enter the weekend nationally-ranked at No. 13 and sport a 35-8 overall record and a PacWest-leading 25-3 mark in conference play. CBU saw its program-record 26-game win streak snapped by Azusa Pacific on Saturday, but bounced back for a shutout victory in the nightcap of the doubleheader. The Lancers spread the wealth at the plate, as eight different players boast a batting average of .300 or better, while four Lancers have hit at least five home runs on the season. Senior catcher London Miller (.297/37 RBI) leads the PacWest with 11 home runs, while sophomore Soraya Shahbazian (.353/38 RBI) is not far behind with nine home runs. Freshman outfielder Caitlyn Lloyd leads the PacWest in slugging percentage (.804), hits (60), doubles (17), and triples (5), and ranks second in the PacWest in batting average (.435) and RBI (47). Freshman Ciara Stapp (13-3) leads the Lancers in the pitcher's circle with a PacWest-best 1.17 ERA to go with 67 strikeouts, while sophomore Kellye Springstead (11-3) boasts a 1.50 ERA with 94 strikeouts.

LAST TIME OUT: Dixie State split a four-game series at Concordia last week, winning the second (7-4) and fourth (3-1) games of the series. DSU won the series-finale in eight innings, marking the first time the Trailblazers have played an extra-inning game this season.

DSU VS. RANKED OPPONENTS THIS SEASON: Friday's series-opening game will mark DSU's eighth game vs. a ranked opponent this season. The Trailblazers hold a 5-2 record vs. ranked opponents in 2017, having earned wins over No. 19 Colorado Mesa, No. 2 West Texas A&M (2) and No. 9 Adelphi (2).

LEADING THE LEAGUE: Dixie State leads the PacWest in batting average (.334), triples (15), RBI (277), and stolen bases (109). Additionally, Janessa Bassett (Stansbury Park, Utah/Stansbury HS) leads the league in on-base percentage (.551), walks drawn (31), and stolen bases (31), while Mallory Paulson (Fruita, Colo./Fruita Monument HS) leads the league in runs scored (42).

MAKING HISTORY: Janessa Bassett (Stansbury Park, Utah/Stansbury HS) became Dixie State's career stolen bases leader on February 10, stealing second in the top of the first vs. UC Colorado Springs. Bassett eclipsed former DSU player Bailie Hicken's (2009-10) mark of 87 on the play, and has added 19 more stolen bases since then for a career total of 107 stolen bases on 119 attempts (.899). Bassett also currently sits atop the career triples (19), batting average (.451), and on-base percentage (.535) lists.

Additionally, Josey Hartman (Mapleton, Utah/Maple Mountain HS) now sits atop the DSU career games played and games started list after appearing in and starting the 217th game of her career in the series finale at Concordia-Irvine on Saturday. The senior shortstop has started in every Dixie State softball game from her freshman year to the present day.

DSU IN THE RANKINGS: Dixie State debuted at No. 6 in the NCAA Division II West Region rankings on Wednesday. After last week's series split at Concordia-Irvine, the Trailblazers dropped out of the NFCA Division II Top-25 poll, after sitting at No. 22 in last week's poll.

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 returns to Karl Brooks Field for its regular-season finale in a doubleheader vs. Academy of Art next Saturday. The doubleheader will serve as the team's Senior Day, as five seniors will play in their final game at Karl Brooks Field.

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Players Mentioned

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

#15 Josey Hartman: SS; 5' 7"; 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

Players Mentioned

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

#15 Josey Hartman
: 5' 7"; Senior; R/R
: SS

#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