ST. GEORGE – Dixie State had one great chance to change its fortunes Saturday afternoon. When that fell through, Cal Baptist jumped on it and cruised to an 8-2 victory at Bruce Hurst Field. It is DSU’s third straight loss.
It was the fourth inning with the bases loaded, no one out, and Dixie State’s best hitter, Tanner Morache, at the plate. It was a perfect opportunity for the Red Storm to add to their 2-0 lead against the visiting Lancers.
“That at bat was on me as the coach,” said DSU head coach Chris Pfatenhauer. “Tanner was looking at a 2-0 pitch and I told him to go after it. They had been pitching poorly to that point and he ended up chasing a pitch out of the zone.”
The grounder went right back to the pitcher, who gunned it home to force out the lead runner. Shortstop Drew McLaughlin then struck out swinging and the Lancers got out of the inning when outfielder Donald Glover hit a line drive to left field.
The momentum continued for the Lancers as they put up seven runs in the decisive fifth inning. CBU combined four hits and a walk with four Dixie errors.
“Baseball is a funny sport,” said Dixie first baseman Kevin Kline. “Momentum can change like the flip of a switch. Today we were unable to stem that momentum when we needed to.”
The Lancers would add another run in the seventh inning to push the final score to 8-2. The Lancers earned a 3-1 series win and handed the Red Storm its first league series defeat in two years.
“We did not play Dixie baseball this weekend,” said Pfatenhauer. “Even the game we won, we made too many mistakes and did not hit like we are capable.” The Red Storm had won 24 of 25 games coming into the series.
Dixie State began the game scoring two runs in the first inning on four consecutive singles. Cam Gust batted home McLaughlin with the first run on a hit to left field. Zach Watts then moved Glover home with a ground ball through the right side.
Aaron Pope took the loss (3-2) for DSU. In his four and a third innings, he allowed six runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out three.
Kevin Kline led Dixie State, going 3 for 4 at the plate, including a double.
Stephen Carabajal (2-3) struck out six in more than four relief innings to earn the win for CBU.
Dixie State moves to 25-11 overall, 20-4 in the Pac West with the loss. The Red Storm still maintain first place in the conference, though they are tied with Point Loma and stay one game in front of Cal Baptist in the loss column. They will travel to Washington state to take on Saint Martins in a four-game non-conference match-up beginning Friday.
Stats: CBU 8, DSU 2
Dixie State third baseman Yuto Kata leaps for a high throw, Dixie State University vs. California Baptist University, Baseball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Bronson Anderson makes a relief appearance for the Red Storm, Dixie State University vs. California Baptist University, Baseball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Dixie State's Yuto Kata, Dixie State University vs. California Baptist University, Baseball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Red Storm head coach Chris Pfatenhauer, file photo from Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Dixie State's Yuto Kata dives back to second base safely, Dixie State University vs. California Baptist University, Baseball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Donald Glover takes a swing for Dixie State, Dixie State University vs. California Baptist University, Baseball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Dixie State starting pitcher Aaron Pope delivers a pitch, Dixie State University vs. California Baptist University, Baseball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Red Storm second baseman Drew McLaughlin takes a throw at second base, Dixie State University vs. California Baptist University, Baseball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Dixie State starting pitcher Aaron Pope, Dixie State University vs. California Baptist University, Baseball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News California Baptist's Andy Crowley lays down a bunt, Dixie State University vs. California Baptist University, Baseball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Red Storm relief pitcher Jeremy Alderman, file photo from Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Red Storm catcher Sam Hall reaches to tag a California Baptist player at the plate, the runner was called safe on the play, Dixie State University vs. California Baptist University, Baseball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Cam Gust (46) puts a ball in play for the Red Storm, Dixie State University vs. California Baptist University, Baseball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News File photo as Tanner Morache (7) takes a swing for Dixie State, vs. California Baptist, St. George, Utah, Apr. 11, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @oldschoolag
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.