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Utah Tech University Athletics

SB - Gonzalez vs. HSU
Keric Seegmiller - DSU Media Relations
8
Winner Humboldt State HSU 43-13
6
Dixie State DX-SB 42-14
Winner
Humboldt State HSU
43-13
8
Final
6
Dixie State DX-SB
42-14
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Humboldt State HSU 1 1 6 0 0 0 0 8 5 2
Dixie State DX-SB 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 7 1

W: PAQUE (17-4) L: Melendez, Alexandria (9-6)

Game Recap: Softball | | By DSU Athletics Media Relations

No. 23 Softball season ends with 8-6 loss to Humboldt

Trailblazers drop second straight heartbreaker, finish season 42-14

No. 23 Dixie State softball saw its season come to an end on Friday with an 8-6 loss to No. 12 Humboldt State on the final day of the NCAA Division II West Super Regional in Arcata, California.

The Trailblazers (42-14) erased an early deficit with a six-run second inning, but the Lumberjacks (43-13) responded with six runs of their own in the top of the third. The teams traded base runners through the final four innings, but neither managed further scoring, and HSU secured its second consecutive West Region title.

Humboldt State opened the scoring in the top of the first, pushing a run across after a DSU error to take a 1-0 lead. The Lumberjacks added to the lead in the second inning, scoring on a fielder's choice bunt with a runner at third.

Dixie State answered in the bottom of the second, erupting for six runs on five hits to take a 6-2 lead. After Arista Honey (Bothell, Wash./Bothell HS) drew a leadoff walk, Jessica Gonzalez (Kingsburg, Calif./Kingsburg HS) tied the game at 2-2 with a towering home run over the wall in center field. The Trailblazers then loaded the bases with a Mallory Paulson (Fruita, Colo./Fruita Monument HS) infield single, followed by a Brenna Hinck (Tremonton, Utah/Bear River HS) walk and a Shelby Yung (Upland, Calif./Upland HS) bunt-single. Paulson later scored on a wild pitch, before Janessa Bassett (Stansbury Park, Utah/Stansbury HS) belted a two-RBI triple to right center. Bassett then scored from third when Dani Bartholf (Gilbert, Ariz./Gilbert HS) singled up the middle to push the lead to 6-2 and force an HSU pitching change.

The teams headed to the third inning with the momentum seemingly in the Trailblazers' dugout. But Humboldt State quickly took it back, scoring six runs on three hits to go with three hit by pitches and one walk to retake the lead at what proved to be the eventual final tally of 8-6.

After two quick innings, Dixie State saw a golden opportunity to cut into the lead in the fifth inning when Paulson drove a double to center field with one out. Hinck then singled up the middle, but Paulson was thrown at home by the HSU center fielder. The inning ended on the next play with a DSU groundout.   

The Trailblazers would put two runners on in the sixth inning and another in the seventh, but both times the runners were stranded, and HSU clinched the win and the West Region title.

Paulson logged the only multi-hit performance of the series in Friday's game, going 2-for-4, while Bassett and Gonzalez each finished with two RBI. Alexis Barkwell (San Diego, Calif./North Medford HS), Alexandria Melendez (Moreno Valley, Calif./Valley View HS), and Brooklyn Beardshear (Tucson, Ariz./Sahuaro HS) all saw time in the pitcher's circle, with Melendez (9-6) taking the loss.

Dixie State closes the season with a 42-14 record, finishing the year with 40 or more wins for the fourth time in the last five seasons. The Trailblazers landed seven players on the All-Pacific West Conference teams in 2017, while Bassett was named PacWest Defender of the Year, and Kenzie Sawyer (Cedar City, Utah/Canyon View) earned PacWest Newcomer of the Year honors. Three DSU players also earned All-West Region honors.
 
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