ST. GEORGE – The Dixie State College softball team swept a doubleheader from Academy of Art University 5-2 and 12-2 at Karl Brooks Field.
Using a great performance in game one from junior pitcher Lauren Folta (Erda. UT/Tooele High School), the Red Storm (22-9, 13-3 PWC) the Urban Knight (20-14, 10-6 PWC) bats at bay.
Folta (10-5) threw a complete game allowing eight hits giving up two runs, both unearned, while striking out four. She continued to make great pitch after great pitch in critical situations. She stranded 13 AAU runners on base.
The Red Storm offense came was led by Anna Cue (Murrieta Valley, CA/Murrieta Valley High School) and Jaelle Judkins (Saint George, UT/Dixie High School) three hits. Kelsey Mendenhall (Tooele. UT/Tooele High School) hit her team leading ninth home run, a solo shot in the third inning.
Judkins also picked up an RBI in the second inning when she singled through the right side to give the Red Storm a 3-0 lead.
Kourtnie Schlachter picked up a pinch hit RBI ground out in the third to give the Red Storm a 5-0 lead.
The Red Storm finished the game with 10 hits, which gave them six of their last seven games with at least 10 hits.
In game two, the Red Storm collected 12 hits and score 12 runs to run away with the sweep of the Urban Knights.
Cue had three hits again with two RBI, Breanna Egge (Las Vegas. NV/Centennial High School) and Johnna Brown (Las Vegas, NV/Centennial High School) had two hits and two RBI each. Egge hit her sixth home of the season, a solo shot in the 3rd inning.
Despite allowing 10 singles in the game, Brittnie Miller (Moab. UT/Grand High School) improved to 9-2 allowing two runs and striking out five in the complete game victory.
For the series, the Red Storm pounded Urban Knight pitching for 48 hits improving their team average to .331 on the season and lowered their team ERA down to 3.00.
With the victories, the Red Storm remains in a tie with Hawaii-Hilo for first place in the PacWest. The team that wins the PacWest Conference race will earn an automatic birth the NCAA Tournament. Something that has eluded the Red Storm for the past three seasons.
Dixie State will travel this Wednesday to Cedar City to take on Southern Utah in a doubleheader starting at 2:00 PM. Live stats will be available via DixieAtheltics.com. The Red Storm will then close conclude their PacWest home schedule with four pivotal games against Grand Canyon on Friday at 4PM and Saturday at Noon.