GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Dixie State softball ended a successful road trip by sweeping Colorado Mesa, 12-1, 3-0 just one day after sweeping Fort Lewis. The wins moved DSU to 12-4 heading into PacWest Conference play.
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Storm scored in every inning. In the first, Janessa Bassett singled down the left field line. Shelby Yung reached safely on an error. Autumn Woodfall loaded the bases with a single to left. Jessica Gonzalez singled up the middle to score Bassett and Yung. Taylor Godfrey pinched ran for Gonzalez. Brooklyn Beardshear drew the first walk of the game to load the bases. Mallory Paulson singled to the pitcher to score Woodfall. Josey Hartman reached on a fielder’s choice to score Godfrey before CMU could get out of the inning.
After giving up a run in the bottom of the first, DSU matched it with another run in the second. After the Storm loaded the bases again, Godfrey reached on a fielder’s choice and scored Dani Bartholf.
Paulson opened the third with a double. The next two batters were retired. Bassett doubled to left center, trading places with Paulson. Bassett then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Bartholf drew a walk. Yung singled in Bassett before Bartholf got caught at third for the last out.
In the fourth Godfrey reached with a one-out walk. Beardshear advanced her to second with a single to center. Paulson then hit a three-run shot to left field. CMU was able to secure the last two outs without any more damage.
The Storm put up insurance runs in the fifth. Again Paulson got an extra-base hit (double) to score Gonzalez and Bartholf.
“Mallory is from Fruita, Colo., just up the road from where we played,” said Dixie State head coach Randy Simkins. “She went 4 for 4 with 6 RBIs. She also made some pretty amazing defensive plays.”
In all, five separate players got multiple hits, collecting 14 in total. Four went for extra bases. Aryn Feickert (8-2) got the win for Dixie State, scattering three hits over five innings.
The second game was more of a defensive contest. The game was scoreless till DSU came to bat in the fourth. Bassett singled to shortstop. Bartholff then doubled to left field, moving Bassett to third. Yung then singled to the pitcher, scoring Bassett. Gonzalez then singled to the pitcher, scoring Bartholff. Paulson then hit into a double play but advanced Yung to third. Then Yung pulled off a rarity and stole home.
“We noticed throughout the game that their pitcher would take the throw from the catcher then turn away from third, put her head down and walk back to the mound,” said Simkins. “We told Shelby (Yung) that if she got the opportunity, to go on the catcher’s throw back to the pitcher. She not only got home safely, but she was there in plenty of time.”
Beardshear (2-1) pitched the entire game and scattered four hits in seven innings. She only faced 25 batters for the game and never allowed more than one runner on base at any time to get the shutout.
The two losses dropped Colorado Mesa to 5-6. The Storm will next travel to Azusa, Calif., to take on the Lady Cougars. APU is 12-6 and have won seven of its last eight. The four-game series will have two doubleheaders on back-to-back days. The first game is scheduled for Friday, March 4 at 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
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