Trailblazers head to Arizona for 2020 Cactus Classic

Dixie State to play five games in three days in Tucson

2020 Dixie State Softball - Cactus Classic
Lincoln Park - Tucson, Ariz.
Feb. 14-16, 2020

Dixie State Game Times (Mountain):
Friday vs. #2 Texas A&M-Kingsville - 12:30 p.m.
Friday vs. West Texas A&M - 3 p.m. - LIVE STATS
Saturday vs. Southern Nazarene - 10 a.m.
Saturday vs. St. Mary's - 12:30 p.m.
Sunday vs. Western Oregon - 10 a.m.

Dixie State softball is set to hit the road for the first time this season and will travel to Tucson, Arizona, for the 2020 Cactus Classic.

The Trailblazers (8-1) will play five games in Tucson, beginning with two games on Friday. DSU will open the tournament with a 12:30 p.m. matchup against No. 2 Texas A&M-Kingsville, followed by a 3 p.m. battle with West Texas A&M. Dixie State will take on Southern Nazarene (10 a.m.) and St. Mary's (12:30 p.m.) on Saturday, before closing the weekend against Western Oregon on Sunday at 10 a.m.

Live stats will not be provided by the Cactus Classic tournament staff. However, West Texas A&M will have staff on hand to provide coverage for its games. DSU's game against the Buffs will have live stats available at www.dixiestateathletics.com. Results and final statistics for the Trailblazers' other four games will be posted and distributed as they are made available.

TRAILBLAZERS AT THE CACTUS CLASSIC: Dixie State will make its third appearance at the Cactus Classic this weekend. The Trailblazers first participated in the tournament during the 2017 season, winning four out of five games. The next year, DSU played to a perfect 5-0 record in Tucson. Overall, Dixie State has posted a 9-1 record in 10 games played at the Cactus Classic.

ALL-TIME VS. TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE: Friday's game marks the second meeting between Dixie State and Texas A&M-Kingsville. The teams first met on Feb. 17, 2007, at the NCAA DII Leadoff Classic in Phoenix. The Javelinas claimed a 2-0 victory in the inaugural matchup between the teams.

ALL-TIME VS. WEST TEXAS A&M: Friday's game marks the seventh meeting between Dixie State and West Texas A&M. The Buffs won the first four matchups between the teams, including a 2-1 win at the 2014 NCAA DII College World Series. The Trailblazers earned their first wins in the series at the 2017 Cactus Classic, claiming an 8-4 win and a 7-6 triumph over the final two days. The Buffs hold a 4-2 series lead.

ALL-TIME VS. SOUTHERN NAZARENE: Saturday's game marks the second meeting between Dixie State and Southern Nazarene. The Trailblazers battled to a 6-5 win in the first meeting between the teams at the 2018 Cactus Classic.

ALL-TIME VS. ST. MARY'S: Saturday's game marks the second meeting between Dixie State and St. Mary's. The Trailblazers claimed a 5-3 victory over the Rattlers in last week's DSU Softball Courtyard Classic in the first meeting between the teams.

ALL-TIME VS. WESTERN OREGON: Sunday's game marks the sixth meeting between Dixie State and Western Oregon. The teams first met on Feb. 15, 2007, as DSU earned a 1-0 win at the NCAA DII Leadoff Classic in Phoenix. The Wolves countered with their first win (6-1) in the series on Feb. 13, 2011. Since then, the Trailblazers have won the last four matchups, including a 3-2 victory at the 2018 Cactus Classic, to build a 5-1 overall series lead.

RMAC PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Carissa Burgess was named RMAC Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday for her performance through the first week of the season. Burgess kicked off the 2020 season and her sophomore campaign in style, posting a 3-0 record in three starts. Burgess recorded a 1.47 ERA over her three complete-game outings to go with 17 strikeouts. She put the finishing touches on the season's opening week with a complete-game gem on Saturday against Cal State Dominguez Hills, allowing just one run with six strikeouts.

OFF TO THE RACES: After dropping the first game of the 2020 season, Dixie State has rattled off eight consecutive victories to enter the Cactus Classic with an 8-1 record. The Trailblazers have started with an 8-1 mark or better only three other times (2009, 2017, 2018) in the NCAA Division II era.

IN THE RANKINGS: Dixie State entered the 2020 season outside of the Preseason NFCA Division II Top-25 for the first time since 2017. The Trailblazers started the new year in the "Receiving Votes" section of the poll.

DSU TABBED AS RMAC PRESEASON FAVORITE: For the second consecutive season, the Trailblazers have been selected as the RMAC preseason favorite. Dixie State came in atop the 2020 Preseason Poll after receiving seven out of a possible 13 first-place votes to garner a total of 133 points. DSU edged out Colorado Mesa in the poll, which received three first-place votes and earned 131 points. Colorado Christian landed at No. 3 with two first-place votes, while MSU Denver and Colorado School of Mines rounded out the top-5 at fourth and fifth. Junior pitcher Cambrie Hazel, sophomore pitcher Carissa Burgess, and junior infielder Mikaela Thomson were each named to the RMAC Preseason Players to Watch list.

THE SIMKINS FILE: Two-time Pacific West Conference Coach of the Year Randy Simkins is in his 12th season inside the Trailblazer dugout. In 11-plus seasons at DSU, Simkins has posted a 472-132 record (.781), leading the Trailblazers to four regular-season PacWest Conference championships and the 2019 RMAC Tournament title. Additionally, Simkins has led Dixie State to 11 consecutive NCAA Division II Regional appearances, including four Super-Region appearances and a berth in the 2015 NCAA Division II National Championship game.

2020 ROSTER: Dixie State returns seven starters from the 2019 squad, led by All-Region honoree Cambrie Hazel and Carissa Burgess.

Hazel garnered second team All-RMAC and All-Region honors as a sophomore during the 2019 season, closing the season with an 18-7 record and a 1.98 ERA. She was named RMAC Pitcher of the Week twice, and finished the year in the top-5 in the RMAC in six categories, including a conference-best 215 strikeouts. The 215 strikeouts also marked a DSU single-season record. Additionally, Hazel struck out 10 or more batters 10 times during the regular season and recorded a career-high 15 strikeouts against Regis on March 30. She also posted seven shutouts and limited opposing batters to a .177 average.

Burgess exploded onto the scene as a freshman in 2019, earning an RMAC-best 23 wins (23-5 record), while posting a 2.46 ERA. Burgess logged 85 strikeouts and allowed just 26 walks in 159.2 innings pitched. Additionally, Burgess tossed 19 complete games and five shutouts.

Dixie State returns five other starters from the 2019 season, including junior infielder Mikaela Thomson (.323/30 H/21 RBI/3 HR/3 2B), senior outfielder Brenna Cornwall (.296/42 H/16 RBI/4 2B), sophomore outfielder Kasey Crawford (.263/36 H/18 RBI/3 2B/2 3B), senior infielder Kori Gahn (.246/32 H/30 RBI/7 HR/5 2B), and senior outfielder Riley Tyteca (.356/21 H/18 RBI/3 HR/3 2B).

The Trailblazers also return senior catcher Destiny Diaz, senior infielder Kirsten Quigley, junior infielder/catcher Meagan Anders, junior infielder Emma Sweet, redshirt sophomore outfielder Malory Eldredge, freshman pitcher Ashtyn Bauerle, sophomore outfielder Ashley Jones, and sophomore catcher Lindsay Allfillisch.

Seven new freshmen join the 2020 squad, including Shea Clements, Maile Maletta, Brylee Rudd, Kaylan Walker, Hannah Hughbanks, Laura Lockard, and Brianna Castellon.

UP NEXT: Dixie State will open RMAC play next week, hosting CSU-Pueblo in a four-game series on Saturday and Sunday at Karl Brooks Field.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#44 Riley Tyteca: OF; 5' 7"; Senior; R/R

#24 Meagan Anders: SS/C; 5' 3"; Junior; L/R

#8 Cambrie Hazel: P; 5' 11"; Junior; R/R

#15 Emma Sweet: 2B/SS; 5' 6"; Junior; L/R

#21 Mikaela Thomson: 3B/1B; 5' 9"; Junior; R/R

#11 Malory Eldredge: OF; 5' 8"; Redshirt Sophomore; L/R

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#44 Riley Tyteca
: 5' 7"; Senior; R/R
: OF

#24 Meagan Anders
: 5' 3"; Junior; L/R
: SS/C

#8 Cambrie Hazel
: 5' 11"; Junior; R/R
: P

#15 Emma Sweet
: 5' 6"; Junior; L/R
: 2B/SS

#21 Mikaela Thomson
: 5' 9"; Junior; R/R
: 3B/1B

#11 Malory Eldredge
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Sophomore; L/R
: OF