Softball John Potter, Dixie State Media Relations Assistant

Red Storm start Super Regional with 2-1 win over Sonoma State

Chavez homers aids Duncan's 28th win

ST. GEORGE, Utah – Senior Nicole Chavez (Chino Hills, CA/Ayala High School) hit her team-leading 11th home run of the season in the third inning, as the No. 2 seed Dixie State softball team recorded their 14th straight victory in a 2-1 triumph over Sonoma State in game one of the NCAA West Super Regional at Karl Brooks Field.
 
The Red Storm improves to 48-7 overall and is one win from advancing to the Division II Championships in Oklahoma City. Game two will be Saturday at 1 p.m., with the if-necessary game three to be played at 3:30 p.m.
 
Pacific West Conference and Daktronics West Region Pitcher of the Year Michelle Duncan (Gilbert, AZ/Gilbert High School) struck out one in a four-hit complete game effort to move to 28-0 on the year. She retired the first 14 batters she saw before a two-out double in the SSU fifth put a base runner aboard. The senior allowed an unearned run in the sixth inning and stranded the potential tying run on second base in the seventh inning.
 
The Storm scored a pair of runs in the second inning off CCAA Co-Pitcher of the Year, Amanda Llerena. Freshman outfielder Janessa Bassett (Stansbury Park, UT/Stansbury Park) reached on an infield error, stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. On a 1-2 count, Chavez lifted a letter-high pitch over the wall in left field for a 2-0 lead.
 
The score remained the same until the top of the sixth, when Sonoma State (42-20) plated a run at home after an infield single to shortstop.
 
Sonoma State got a runner on second base with a sharp double to left field with one out. Duncan won a 12-pitch battle against Aubrie Tolliver, getting her to fly out to right field. A routine grounder to Chavez off the bat of pinch hitter Carlie Daniel closed out the DSU win.
 
Dixie State out hit the Seawolves for the game, five to four. Senior outfielder Courtney Hine (San Dimas, CA/San Dimas High School) had the only multi-hit game with a pair of singles to right field.