Dixie State nips HPU, advances to Super-Regional vs. Cal St. Stanislaus

Dixie State beats HPU, advances to Super-Regional

Box Score

 ST. GEORGE, UT - Ashley McFarland ripped a bases-loaded triple in the top of the seventh to give the Red Storm (39-10) a 3-2 comeback victory over Hawaii Pacific on Sunday in St. George, UT, and a berth in the NCAA Division II West Super-Regional.

Dixie State will host Cal State Stanislaus, who rumbled through the loser's bracket at Humboldt State, this coming weekend in St. George.

The Red Storm is in its first season of eligiblity for NCAA Division II post-season play and has made the most of its opportunity.

Down 2-0 heading into the top of the seventh, the Red Storm grabbed its first and only lead of the game on McFarland's three-run extra-base hit.

In the bottom of the seventh, starting pitcher Lauren Folta, who earlier gave way to reliever Brittnie Whipple, re-entered the contest to nail down the final two outs of the game and claim the victory.

While softball pitchers statistically can not get a win and a save in the same game, Folta actually did just that.

The Sea Warriors (42-12), who won the PacWest Championship this year and beat the Red Storm in three of four conference games, took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Kozy Toriano ripped a single, moved up on Taija Acierto's sacrifice bunt, and came home on Laine Shikuma's single.

The Sea Warriors earned their second run of the game in the home sixth when Shikuma singled and took second on Nicole Riviera's sacrifice bunt. Ciera Senas' single brought her home later in the inning.

Dixie State's rally in the seventh started when HPU's Courtney Kessell hit Jaki Hawkins with a pitch. Kessell then recorded the next two outs before Dabney McIntyre singled and Shantae Hunter walked to load the bases. McFarland then unleashed her three-RBI triple.

Whipple, Dixie State's closer, forged an out to start the bottom of the seventh, but then walked Krystal Plunkett, Maile Kim and Kozy Toriano in succession to load the bases.

Dixie State head coach Beth Collett then brought Folta back into the game with the tying run on third base. Folta induced a pop up by HPU's Taija Acierto to short left field, then snagged Shikuma's line drive for the final out.

Folta scattered seven hits in improving to 13-3. Kessell gave up six hits as she dropped to 20-8. Shikuma led Hawaii Pacific with two hits, while Dabney McIntyre had two hits to lead Dixie State.

The Red Storm awaited the outcome from Humboldt State, the location of the other four-team sub-regional. Sonoma State sat in the enviable position of being unbeaten on Sunday, but CSU Stanislaus won game one 2-1 and dominated game two 7-1.

Dixie State is the highest remaining seed in the region at #3.