The Red Storm congratulate Courtney Sherwin after her third inning home run, Dixie State University vs. Notre Dame de Namur University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
ST. GEORGE – The Dixie State softball team is smokin’ hot and there’s no way Notre Dame de Namur was going to slow them down. DSU won both games of Saturday’s doubleheader by mercy-rule at Karl Brooks Field to improve to 25-1 in conference. DSU’s score differential, 12-4 and 10-0.
In the first game, the Red Storm jumped out in the first, scoring two runs. Janessa Bassett and Nikki Chavez both scored off a Courtney Hine single to the left side.
NDNU would match the runs in the top of the next inning. Dixie’s response was swift. Courtney Sherwin hit a two-run shot to left field in the next inning to put Dixie up 4-2.
In the bottom of the fourth, Dixie State would score two more runs when Marla Reiter reached on an error, scoring both Hine and Chavez.
The Lady Argonauts would get two more runs in the fifth inning on a double from shortstop Toni Cardoza to pull the score to 6-4.
But in the fifth, Nikki Chavez hit a grand slam to center field scoring Bassett, Josey Hartman and Kristie Johnson. After Hine popped out, Marla Reiter hit a solo shot to center field to put the score to 11-4. The final run to end the game came when Courtney Sherwin went to third on a wild pitch and then came home on a throwing error from the catcher.
Michelle Duncan pitched the complete game and remains perfect on the year at 21-0. Shelby Reall took the loss for NDNU and falls to 8-12.
In the second game, the Red Storm surpassed the requisite eight-run mercy-rule lead in the first inning. Chavez hit a two-run shot to left. After Hine and Reiter were retired, the Red Storm went on a seven-run, two-out rally. Sherwin reached on a single to right field. Brooklyn Beardshear singled up the middle. Autumn Woodfall reached on an error, scoring Sherwin and Beardshear. Mallory Paulson singled to left field. Hartman reached on an error, scoring Paulson and Woodfall. Janessa Bassett hit a two-run shot to right field. Chavez then hit her second home run of the inning to put the Red Storm up 9-0.
“Chavez is in a good position in the batting order,” said Dixie State head coach Randy Simkins. “She follows Bassett, the top base-stealer in the conference. So she will rarely see a change-up. And she is followed by Hine, one of the top hitters in the conference.”
Paulson would add an insurance run in the third off a single to left field by Johnson.
Aryn Feickert pitched the complete game for the two-hit shutout, collecting 13 Ks in the process. She moves to 16-5 for the year.
Jenna Bassler took the loss to go to 9-10. “Bassler pitched good against us last year,” said Chavez. “The coach told us to come out confident against her and to hit the ball.”
The Storm move to 38-7 overall and 25-1 in the Pac West Conference. They will face Azusa Pacific at Brroks Field for two doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday. Game time Friday begins at 3 p.m.
Janessa Bassett slaps at a pitch for Dixie State, Dixie State University vs. Notre Dame de Namur University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Janessa Bassett (1) steals second base for the Red Storm, Dixie State University vs. Notre Dame de Namur University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie State University's softball team is having another monstrous year, file photo from DSU vs. Notre Dame de Namur University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Red Storm shortstop Josey Hartman fires across to first base for an out, Dixie State University vs. Notre Dame de Namur University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Nicole Chavez puts a ball in play for the Red Storm, Dixie State University vs. Notre Dame de Namur University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Nicole Chavez celebrates her first inning double, Dixie State University vs. Notre Dame de Namur University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Janessa Bassett, Dixie State University vs. Notre Dame de Namur University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie State's Courtney Hine, Dixie State University vs. Notre Dame de Namur University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Notre Dame pitcher Shelby Reali (17), Dixie State University vs. Notre Dame de Namur University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie State pitcher Michelle Duncan, Dixie State University vs. Notre Dame de Namur University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Red Storm first baseman Brooklyn Beardshear touches first base after snagging a tough ground ball, Dixie State University vs. Notre Dame de Namur University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie State second baseman Nicole Chavez tags out a Notre Dame baserunner, Dixie State University vs. Notre Dame de Namur University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Nicole Chavez starts a double play by tagging a Notre Dame runner, Dixie State University vs. Notre Dame de Namur University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Courtney Sherwin launches a two-run home run in the third inning for the Red Storm, Dixie State University vs. Notre Dame de Namur University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darren Cole recently returned to sportswriting after a 20-plus year hiatus. While pursuing other studies, he developed an early passion for sports writing as a senior writer and sports editor for the Ricks College Scroll in 1988-89. Darren has spent the last 20 years writing legal memorandi and appellate briefs. In addition to his legal career, he has also taught legal and criminal justice courses at the university level for nine years as an adjunct professor. Darren is married to wife Lisa, has two sons and is a confessed sports junkie.