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Utah Tech University Athletics

SB - Honey Grand Slam vs. SSU
Stan Plewe/Utah Tech Athletics
7
Winner Dixie State DX-SB 42-12
4
Sonoma State SSU 38-20
Winner
Dixie State DX-SB
42-12
7
Final
4
Sonoma State SSU
38-20
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Dixie State DX-SB 0 3 0 0 4 0 0 7 10 0
Sonoma State SSU 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 4 9 1

W: Beardshear, Brooklyn (19-6) L: RUIZ (12-5) S: Barkwell, Alexis (2)

Game Recap: Softball | | By DSU Athletics Media Relations

Super Regional Bound! No. 23 Softball defeats Sonoma State, 7-4

Trailblazers advance to third West Super Regional in four years

GAME HIGHLIGHTS
POST-GAME INTERVIEWS

No. 23 Dixie State softball clinched its third NCAA Division II West Super Regional berth in four years on Saturday with a 7-4 comeback win over Sonoma State in the West 1 Regional Final at the Otter Sports Complex in Seaside, California.

For the second time this weekend, the Trailblazers (42-12) found themselves in an early hole against the Seawolves (38-20). And for the second time this weekend, DSU found a way to rally for a victory.

Like Thursday's matchup with Sonoma State, the Seawolves scored two runs in the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. SSU opened the scoring with a double-steal play, then scored the second run with an RBI-single to center field.

Dixie State then turned back the clock to Thursday, scoring three runs in the second inning to take a 3-2 lead. Mallory Paulson (Fruita, Colo./Fruita Monument HS) sparked the rally with a leadoff double to right center field, then scored DSU's first run when Kenzie Sawyer (Cedar City, Utah/Canyon View) ripped an RBI-double down the left field line. After Brenna Hinck (Tremonton, Utah/Bear River HS) pinch-ran for Sawyer, Josey Hartman (Mapleton, Utah/Maple Mountain HS) took a pitch to the helmet, followed by a Janessa Bassett (Stansbury Park, Utah/Stansbury HS) single to load the bases. Dani Bartholf (Gilbert, Ariz./Gilbert HS) then worked her way to a full count and grounded a ball to the shortstop, who tried to throw Bassett out at second. But Bassett beat the throw, allowing both Hinck and Hartman to score to give DSU the lead.

Both pitchers then went to work and combined to retire 15 of the next 16 batters, until the Trailblazers bucked the trend in the top of the fifth.

Bassett drew a leadoff walk, then moved to third after singles by Bartholf and Bailey Gaffin (Glendale, Ariz./Mountain Ridge HS). With the bases loaded, Arista Honey (Bothell, Wash./Bothell HS) stepped to the plate with another opportunity to turn back the clock to Thursday's game. After taking two called strikes, Honey fought her way back to an even count. On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Honey saw the pitch she wanted, crushing the 2-2 offering past the scoreboard in left field for a grand slam to give the Trailblazers a 7-2 advantage. The blast marked both her second home run of the tournament, and her second home run against Sonoma State, after hitting a two-run home run on Thursday.

But the Seawolves refused to go down to down easy, scoring one run in the fifth and another in the sixth inning to cut the lead to 7-4 with two runners still on base in the frame. Senior Alison Strycula drew a walk to load the bases with two outs, prompting DSU Head Coach Randy Simkins to enter Alexis Barkwell (San Diego, Calif./North Medford HS) at pitcher. Barkwell battled with leadoff hitter Karly Macadangdang as the count went full, then forced a fly ball to Shelby Yung (Upland, Calif./Upland HS) in left field on the eighth pitch of the at-bat to escape the jam.

Dixie State saw a golden opportunity to add to its lead in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with just one out. But the next two batters were retired, leaving the runners stranded.

Sonoma State junior Jenny Collazo drove a leadoff double to center field to open the bottom of the seventh, then moved to third on a groundout to shortstop. But she wouldn't get any closer to the plate. Barkwell forced two more consecutive groundouts, as Bartholf scooped up a grounder at third and fired to Paulson at first to clinch the 7-4 victory.

The win propels Dixie State to its third West Super Regional in four years, while this year marks the first time the Trailblazers will play in a Super Regional away from Karl Brooks Field.

Three Trailblazers turned in multi-hit performances, led by Gaffin, who went 3-for-4. Bartholf finished the day at 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Bassett went 2-for-3 with a walk. Honey finished with a team-high four RBI after the grand slam. Beardshear (19-6) earned the win in the pitcher's circle, allowing eight hits with one strikeout in 5.2 innings pitched. Barkwell earned her second save of the season after entering the game in the sixth inning.

Dixie State now heads to Arcata, California, for the West Super Regionals against No. 12 Humboldt State. The best-of-three series is set to begin on Thursday at 3 p.m. Pacific Time (4 p.m. MT), with the second game played on Friday at Noon PT (1 p.m. MT). The if-necessary game will follow at 2:30 p.m. PT (3:30 p.m. MT) should it be needed.
 
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