No. 11 Trailblazers head to Denver for RMAC pod series

2020 Dixie State Softball
#11 Dixie State (15-3, 3-1 RMAC) vs.
Black Hills State (2-9, 1-3 RMAC)
MSU Denver (10-6, 2-2 RMAC)
Regency Athletic Complex; Denver, Colo.
Feb. 29-Mar. 1, 2020

Game Times (Mountain):
Saturday - vs. BHSU (2 p.m.) / vs. (MSUD) 4 p.m.
Sunday - vs. MSUD (11 a.m.) / vs. BHSU (1 p.m.)

No. 11 Dixie State softball travels to Denver this weekend for a four-game Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference pod series at MSU Denver's Regency Athletic Complex. The trip to Denver also marks the beginning of an eight-game road swing for DSU.

The Trailblazers (15-3, 3-1 RMAC) open the series on Saturday with a 2 p.m. matchup against Black Hill State (2-9, 1-3 RMAC). DSU then closes the first day with a 4 p.m. battle against host MSU Denver (10-6, 2-2 RMAC).

The schedule will reverse on Sunday with Dixie State taking on MSU Denver at 11 a.m., before closing the weekend with another contest against Black Hills State at 1 p.m. Live video and live stats will be provided by the MSU Denver sports information staff. Links for both can be found at DixieStateAthletics.com.

ALL-TIME VS. BLACK HILLS STATE: Saturday's game marks the third meeting between Dixie State and Black Hills State. The teams first met last season at an RMAC pod series in Denver. The Trailblazers claimed both games, 3-1 and 5-3, over the Yellow Jackets to build a 2-0 series lead.

ALL-TIME VS. MSU DENVER: Saturday's game marks the sixth meeting between Dixie State and MSU Denver. The teams first met on Feb. 7, 2015, at the NFCA Division II Leadoff Classic in Tucson, Arizona. The Trailblazers claimed a 9-1 victory in the inaugural matchup between the teams. Dixie State then earned a 13-5 win over the Roadrunners on Feb. 8, 2018, at the 2018 DSU Easton Classic, before taking two out of three games from the Roadrunners last season, including a 9-5 win in the 2019 RMAC tournament, to build a 4-1 series lead.

KNOW YOUR FOE: Black Hills State enters the weekend with a 2-9 overall record a 1-3 mark in RMAC play. The Yellow Jackets own a non-conference win over Minot State and an RMAC victory over Fort Lewis. Freshman shortstop Taryn Moan leads BHSU at the plate, hitting .462 with 12 hits, 2 RBI, three doubles, and one triple. Two BHSU pitchers have recorded 10 or more innings pitched, including sophomore Crystal Amaral (1-3/7.09 ERA/20 K) and freshman Halie Litwin (0-3, 13.85 ERA/5 K).

MSU Denver enters the weekend with a 10-6 overall record and a 2-2 mark in RMAC play. The Roadrunners split an RMAC pod series last week, earning two wins over New Mexico Highlands with two losses to Colorado Christian. Freshman utility player Olivia Dampier (.442/23 hits/20 RBI/5 2B/2 HR) leads the Roadrunners at the plate, while redshirt freshman pitcher/infielder Kayla Banks (.415/22 hits/8 RBI/6 2B/HR) is also hitting over .400. Banks also leads MSUD in the pitcher's circle with a 5-1 record and a 3.78 ERA in 37.0 innings pitched. Senior Darby McGhee (1-1, 4.78 ERA/31 K) has pitched a team-high 41.0 innings.

ON THE ROAD: Since Randy Simkins began his NCAA Division II-era tenure as head coach at DSU in 2010, the Trailblazers have posted a 144-51 (.738) record in true road games and have logged a winning record on the road in each season. Additionally, Dixie State has recorded a 63-38 (.624) record in neutral-site games.

IN THE RANKINGS: Dixie State moved up two spots to No. 11 in the latest NFCA Division II Top-25 poll.

NON-CONFERENCE NUGGETS: After dropping the first game of the 2020 season, Dixie State won 12 of its next 13 games to end non-conference play with a 12-2 record. The Trailblazers have started with an 12-2 mark or better only three other times (2009, 2017, 2018) in the NCAA Division II era.

LAST TIME OUT: The Trailblazers earned a 3-1 series win over CSU-Pueblo to open RMAC play. Dixie State claimed three mercy-rule victories from the Thunderwolves, posting a doubleheader sweep on Sunday before splitting on Monday.

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 479-134 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 travels to Colorado Springs, Colorado, next week for a four-game RMAC series at UCCS.

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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