Nationally-ranked Dixie State softball extends winning streak to 12

Written by Darren Cole
March 23, 2016
The Red Storm celebrate Autumn Woodfall's (00) second home run of the game, Dixie State University vs. Chaminade University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Mar. 23, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

ST. GEORGE —  The No. 14-ranked Dixie State Softball team extended its winning streak to 12 games with a doubleheader sweep (8-0 and 16-4) over Chaminade Wednesday afternoon at Karl Brooks Field.

dsulogoStarter Aryn Feickert pitched a no-hitter in the first game and the Storm defense was error-free in both games.

The Storm put up eight runs in the shortened first game. Catcher Autumn Woodfall had two home runs and the Red Storm (25-7, 13-3 PacWest) pounded out 27 hits with no errors on the day en route to the sweep.

“We are really meshing as a team,” said Feickert. “We have spent a lot of time with each other on and off the field. That has paid dividends in our play.”

Dixie State's Aryn Feickert (7) pitched a no-hitter, Dixie State University vs. Chaminade University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Mar. 23, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie State’s Aryn Feickert (7) pitched a no-hitter, Dixie State University vs. Chaminade University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Mar. 23, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

Neither team could get on the board in the first two innings. Janessa Bassett’s double in the third inning scored Josey Hartman for the first run.

Woodfall hit the first of her two homers in the fourth. The solo shot to left field put the Storm up 2-0.

In the fifth, the Storm put up four runs. Bassett singled then stole second. Shelby Yung then singled. A throwing error advanced her to second and scored Bassett. Jessica Gonzalez then singled, advancing Yung to third. Mallory Paulson sacrificed to center field to score Yung. Woodfall then hit her second home run, this time to left center, to bat in two runs.

“She threw me the exact same pitch as the first home run,” said Woodfall. “It was a tad inside, but right where I wanted it.”

In the sixth, Brooklyn Beardshear led off with a double. Kaitlyn Delange came in as a pinch runner. Kristie Johnson then doubled in Delange. Josey Hartman ended the game by doubling in Johnson.

Feickert earned the win to improve to 13-3, matching her season-high of 11 strikeouts en route to the no-hitter. She walked three batters. None of her walks made it to second base.

Dixie State's Dani Bartholf (2) and Mallory Paulson (24), Dixie State University vs. Chaminade University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Mar. 23, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie State’s Dani Bartholf (2) and Mallory Paulson (24), Dixie State University vs. Chaminade University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Mar. 23, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

The score progressed much differently in the second game. The Storm jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning. Gonzalez drew a walk, followed by a Paulson single and a Woodfall walk. With the bases loaded, Bailey Gaffin belted a three-run triple to center field. Beardshear then slammed a two-run home run to left field. Johnson then singled and stole second. Hartman struck out for what would have been the third out, but reached first on a passed ball. Bassett then reached on a fielding error to load the bases. Yung capped the seven-run inning with a two-run single to center field.

The Storm would add three more runs over the next two innings to make it 10-0.

The Silverswords finally got on the scoreboard with four runs in the top of the fourth inning. Three of those came off a home run by Keani Passi. Passi, who won several accolades earlier this year in volleyball, hit the ball over the center field fence.

The Red Storm extended the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Kaitlyn Delange, Gonzalez, Summer Simkins, Gaffin, and Madi Dove each recorded at least one RBI as the Storm scored six runs on five hits.

“We were able to play everybody today,” said Dixie State head coach Randy Simkins. “And they all produced. It is great to see our younger players not only get their chance, but to make the most of it.”

Dove finished the game by striking out two in relief in the top of the fifth. Beardshear earned the win, striking out four with no walks to improve to 8-2.

Dixie State will host PacWest Conference front runner Hawai’i Hilo next Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Karl Brooks Field.

“We get them on the tail end of their mainland trip,” said Simkins. “We will be following them to see how they do against the California schools. Normally, they have a tough time playing against us here. Last year we got two tough 2-0 wins at their place. I expect both games to be tightly contested.”

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @oldschoolag

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

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.

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